China has suspended a top military official and placed him under investigation for corruption, the defense ministry said, as leader Xi Jinping broadens a sweeping purge in the upper ranks of the world’s largest military.

BEIJING — China has put a high-ranking military official under investigation, its Defense Ministry announced Thursday. The official, Miao Li, is director of the Political Work Department, on the powerful Central Military Commission that overseas the People’s Liberation Army.

The official, Miao Hua, is director of the Political Work Department on the powerful Central Military Commission that oversees the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). He is one of five members of the body that oversees the world’s largest standing military, in addition to China’s leader Xi Jinping, who heads the commission.