India, Jan. 25 -- China's most senior serving general is under investigation, the defence ministry said on Saturday, marking the highest-profile purge of military leadership so far.

Zhang Youxia, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and second-in-command under President Xi Jinping, is being probed for suspected "serious violations of discipline and law."

"After deliberation by the CPC Central Committee, it was decided to initiate an investigation into Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli," a ministry spokesman said, according to South China Morning Post.

Liu Zhenli, chief of staff of the CMC's Joint Staff Department, is also under investigation.

Zhang has long been regarded as Xi's closest military ally. He is a member of the...