China has expelled two high-ranking military generals, General Zhang Youxia and General Liu Zhenli, on charges of "serious violations of discipline and law" and "disloyalty" to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The move comes ahead of President Xi Jinping’s visit to the United States, where he will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump. Both generals were accused of abuse of power, corruption, and leaking sensitive information. General Zhang, who was second in command in the military and served as vice-chair of the Central Military Commission (CMC), China’s top military authority, was alleged to have shared classified data on the People's Liberation Army’s nuclear weapons program with the U.S. General Liu, the chief of staff of the CMC's Joint Staff Department, was accused of forming "self-serving cliques," violating political discipline, and being dishonest to the party. The removal of these two senior officers is one of the most significant in a long-standing campaign to purge the military of corruption and ensure loyalty to the party. Since 2020, China has expelled over 100 senior officers from the People's Liberation Army (PLA), some of whom have disappeared or been sidelined. Analysts believe these purges are part of President Xi’s broader effort to root out corruption, remove obstacles to military modernization, and ensure absolute loyalty to his leadership. According to state-run news outlet Xinhua, the two generals were investigated in January 2026 for "crossing red lines and basic limits" and being "disloyal and dishonest to the Party." The report stated that both engaged in corruption, including accepting bribes and helping others in promotions in exchange for favors. The violations were described as involving "exceptionally large amounts of money" and having "significantly negative impacts." The investigation has now been handed over to military prosecutors for legal action. Experts note that the language used in Chinese media, such as "cliques" and "disloyalty," suggests that Beijing is not only targeting corruption but also political trust. The official military newspaper, PLA Daily, emphasized that the two generals had "seriously betrayed the trust of the Party" and created problems that undermined the party’s control over the military. The purges are part of a broader anti-corruption campaign that has seen over 200,000 officials disciplined since Xi took office in 2012. The CMC, which once had seven members, now has only two, including Xi and General Zhang Shengmin, who replaced another expelled officer. The expulsions occur just days before Xi’s visit to the U.S. for a three-day state visit. The two leaders are expected to discuss trade, artificial intelligence, and strategic issues, including the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. Chinese officials have confirmed the visit, stating that Xi and Trump will exchange views on major issues affecting China-U.S. relations and global stability. The talks are seen as an opportunity to manage differences while reinforcing the "constructive strategic stability" between the two nations.