China Eastern's former chairman Liu Shaoyong received a 14-year prison sentence on November 3 for taking bribes totaling 67.5 million yuan (US$10.1 million) between 2002 and 2023. The Shenyang Intermediate People's Court also fined him 4 million yuan and ordered disgorgement of criminal proceeds.
Liu admitted guilt at his July 24 trial. The court imposed a lighter sentence because he confessed and disclosed bribery facts investigators had not yet uncovered. He exchanged favors for help with business operations, project contracts, and airline route management while holding positions at both China Eastern and China Southern.
The Communist Party launched an investigation three years after Liu left China Eastern in August 2022, when the board praised him for "outstanding contributions." Party disciplinary findings alleged he accepted money for hiring favors, held improper shares in unlisted companies, helped relatives' businesses including private equity funds, and received payments tied to aircraft leasing and flight management.
A central party inspection team examined China Eastern from October through December 2023. A February 2025 report flagged corruption and control issues alongside discussion of party priorities. The inspection findings linked Liu's tenure to several contentious areas: privatization efforts that may have reduced party control, resistance to developing Beijing Daxing airport, insufficient support for Chinese aircraft like the C919, and failure to address safety issues adequately.
China Eastern flight 5735 crashed in March 2022, killing 132 people, while Liu still held his position. He departed four months later.