Former China Eastern Airlines Chief Faces Graft Probe

The former head of China Eastern Airlines, Liu Shaoyong, is under investigation for 'serious violations of discipline and law,' which is a common euphemism for corruption, according to China's top anti-graft watchdog. The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission made the announcement without providing further details. Liu Shaoyong served as the head of China Eastern Airlines from 2009 until his resignation in 2022 and also held the position of party secretary at the airline. China Eastern Airlines, primarily owned by the Chinese government, is one of the three largest Chinese airlines.

Liu Shaoyong is credited with turning the carrier around after it faced significant losses before his appointment. Under his leadership, China Eastern Airlines merged with Shanghai Airlines and joined the SkyTeam airline alliance, strengthening its position in both domestic and international markets. Prior to his role at China Eastern, Liu Shaoyong also led another major Chinese airline, China Southern.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has been leading a campaign against corruption since assuming power over a decade ago. While some view this as a move towards clean governance, others see it as a way for Xi to eliminate political rivals.

According to the source: CNA.