"Investigation found that Zhang and Liu … transgressed red lines and bottom lines,” according to the statement. “They severely violated political discipline and rules by forming cliques and factions, demonstrating disloyalty and dishonesty to the party.”

Their offences included “taking advantage of their positions to seek promotional benefits for others in exchange for huge amounts of money”, “accepting gifts and money in violation of regulations”, “failing to fulfil political responsibilities for full and rigorous self-governance of the party” and “failing to properly educate and restrain their relatives and close staff”, it added.

“Their political and economic infractions were intertwined, combining corruption and enrichment with dereliction of duty, involving exceptionally large sums of money, extremely severe circumstances and highly damaging impacts.”

So a continuation of the anti-corruption campaign so widely supported in China.