Chinese courts have sentenced more than three dozen military veterans to years in prison for protesting over the lack of benefits, saying they disrupted social order in a bid to further their own interests.

The announcements on Friday from the courts in the eastern provinces of Shandong and Jiangsu follow repeated demonstrations by veterans of various ages who say they haven't been adequately compensated for their service.

China's ruling Communist Party tightly restricts all public demonstrations and while it relies on the armed forces to maintain its hold on power, many veterans say they have been left to fend for themselves on meager pensions and little support.

The 47 sentenced to up to six years had been involved in protests last year that involved hundreds of former soldiers.