Liu Shaoyong, former party secretary and chairman of China Eastern Airlines, was sentenced to 14 years in the first instance for accepting bribes of more than 67.5 million yuan.

On November 3, 2026, the Intermediate People's Court of Shenyang City, Liaoning Province publicly pronounced the first instance verdict on Liu Shaoyong, the former party secretary and chairman of China Eastern Airlines Group Co., Ltd., in the bribery case. The defendant Liu Shaoyong was sentenced to 14 years in prison for accepting bribes and was fined RMB 4 million. The property and interest obtained from Liu Shaoyong's crimes were recovered in accordance with the law and turned over to the state treasury.

After trial, it was found that from 2002 to 2023, the defendant Liu Shaoyong took advantage of the convenience of his positions as the general manager of China Eastern Airlines Co., Ltd., the general manager of China Southern Airlines Group Co., Ltd. and the chairman of China Southern Airlines Co., Ltd., the general manager and chairman of China Eastern Airlines Group Co., Ltd. and the chairman of China Eastern Airlines Co., Ltd., as well as the convenience of his powers or status to provide assistance to relevant units and individuals in business operations, project contracting, route management and other matters, and illegally received property worth a total of more than 67.5 million yuan.

The Intermediate People's Court of Shenyang City, Liaoning Province held that defendant Liu Shaoyong's behavior constituted the crime of accepting bribes. The amount of bribes Liu Shaoyong accepted was particularly huge. In view of the attempted bribery crime, Liu Shaoyong truthfully confessed the crime after arriving at the case, and took the initiative to explain most of the facts of bribery that were not yet known to the case-handling agencies. He pleaded guilty and repented, and actively returned the stolen goods. All the stolen money, property and interest involved in the case have been recovered, and he can be given a lighter punishment in accordance with the law. The court then made the above judgment.

It is reported that the Intermediate People's Court of Shenyang City, Liaoning Province held a public hearing on the case on July 24, 2026. During the trial, the procuratorate presented relevant evidence, and the defendant Liu Shaoyong and his defender conducted cross-examination. The prosecution and defense fully expressed their opinions under the auspices of the court. Liu Shaoyong made a final statement and expressed his guilt and repentance in court. More than 30 people including deputies to the National People's Congress, members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and people from all walks of life attended the trial.