BUSINESS

Former China Eastern Chairman Charged With Bribery

Published: May. 8, 2026 5:31 p.m. GMT+8

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Prosecutors accused Liu Shaoyong of exploiting his senior positions at China Eastern and China Southern aviation groups to secure benefits for others in exchange for illicit payments. Photo: VCG

Chinese prosecutors have charged the former chairman of China Eastern Air Holding Co. Ltd. with accepting an “especially huge” amount of bribes, the country’s top procuratorate said Friday.

The indictment marks the downfall of a prominent aviation veteran once celebrated as a corporate troubleshooter who rescued two of the country’s largest state-owned airlines from financial ruin.

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Chinese prosecutors charged ex-China Eastern chairman Liu Shaoyong with accepting "especially huge" bribes via positions at China Eastern and Southern.
Indictment follows Jan. 4 party expulsion for power-money trades in contracts, operations, leasing; investigated June 2025.
Liu, 67, revived airlines financially; final months tied to 2022 MU5735 crash killing 132.

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Who’s Who

China Eastern Air Holding Co. Ltd.: China Eastern Air Holding Co. Ltd. faced near-bankruptcy in 2008 when Liu Shaoyong was appointed leader. He rescued it via a 7B yuan government injection and private placement. Liu, former chairman, stepped down in July 2022 amid the MU5735 crash; charged with huge bribes in 2025 for abuses in projects, operations, and leasing.

China Southern Air Holding Co. Ltd.: Liu Shaoyong became general manager of China Southern Air Holding Co. Ltd. in August 2004, helping turn around the scandal-plagued carrier. He later held senior positions there, accused of exploiting them for bribes in project contracting, flight operations, and aircraft leasing.

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