ISTANBUL

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday warned that there is "no place" for those who are "disloyal" to the ruling Communist Party, stressing "fully leveraging the unique strengths of enhancing political loyalty" in the military, state media reported.

"There must be no place in the military for those who are disloyal to the Party, nor any place for corrupt elements," Xi warned, while attending a plenary meeting of the delegation of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the People's Armed Police Force at the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's national legislature, Beijing-based Xinhua News reported.

Stating that the fight against corruption must be "unwaveringly advanced," the Chinese leader called for "concerted" efforts to advance the modernization of national defense and the armed forces in a steady and sustained manner.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, Xi added, the party has led the armed forces to improve political rectification and advance political loyalty in the military with unprecedented resolve and intensity, achieving "significant results."

At the very start of the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), efforts must be made to establish rigorous rules for strict oversight, and closely monitor key areas such as fund flows, the exercise of power, and quality control, Xi further said.

This comes after the top two PLA generals Gen. Zhang Youxia and Gen. Liu Zhenli were under investigation for “suspected serious disciplinary and legal violations,” in January last.

US media reports have claimed Zhang stands accused of leaking nuclear secrets to Washington.

Last month, the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress removed Liu Cangli, former head of the China Academy of Engineering Physics; Luo Qi, chief engineer of the China National Nuclear Corporation; and Zhou Xinmin, former chair of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China, according to the South China Morning Post daily.

The reason for their removal was not given.