China’s leadership today removed senior military officers Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli from the positions they held on the state Central Military Commission, the Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported, citing the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress.

In January, authorities announced the launch of an investigation into Zhang, who was second in command after President Xi Jinping as vice chairman of the Central Military Commission and a member of China’s elite Politburo.

An investigation was also launched into Liu, a member of the Central Military Commission and chief of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission, over suspicions of serious violations of discipline and the law.

China has parallel structures belonging to the Communist Party and the Central Military Commission. Today’s announcement concerns Zhang’s and Liu’s positions on the state Central Military Commission. However, they have not officially or publicly been removed from their positions on the Central Military Commission of the ruling Communist Party.