BEIJING (AFP) - China's ruling Communist Party said on Friday it was investigating a vice police minister for alleged disciplinary violations, the latest official to be targeted a high-profile campaign to root out corruption.

Mr Li Dongsheng, a vice minister of public security, is being probed for "severe violations of discipline and the law", the party's internal Central Commission for Discipline Inspection announced on its website, using a phrase that is usually a reference to alleged corruption.

Mr Li is one of nine people with the rank of vice minister at the Ministry of Public Security, the government department in charge of policing.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has taken a hard line against corruption in the party since coming to power a little over one year ago.

He has warned that corruption could destroy the party and threatened to stamp down on high-ranking officials, described as "tigers", along with low-level "flies".