Former Chinese defence minister Li Shangfu has been expelled from the ruling Communist Party, state media said Thursday, after he was sacked abruptly last year in unexplained circumstances.

"The Politburo... has decided to expel Li Shangfu from the party, terminate his credentials as a representative of the 20th National Congress, and transfer his suspected criminal issues to military procuratorial organs for review and prosecution," state broadcaster CCTV said.

The Communist Party's powerful Politburo of senior leaders convened on Thursday to review a report on Li's status.

There, they ruled Li had "betrayed his original mission and lost his party spirit and principles", according to CCTV.

He "seriously polluted the political environment and industrial ethos in the field of military equipment, and caused great damage to the party's cause, national defence and the construction of the armed forces", CCTV said.

Li is "suspected of bribery" having been accused of "taking advantage of his position and taking huge sums of money to seek benefits for others... and giving money to others to seek inappropriate benefits", it said.

He also "illegally sought personnel benefits for himself and others", it added.