China’s Anti-Corruption Drive Hits Airline Boss

Liu Shaoyong, once the chief of China Eastern Airlines, faces serious bribery accusations. Authorities say he used several high‑ranking roles to favor others and pocket money and gifts. The case includes his time leading the airline, not just earlier positions. Earlier this month, China’s top prosecutor announced that Liu had been expelled from the Communist Party in January. The party has been tightening its grip on corruption since President Xi Jinping took office in 2012. Both senior officials—known as “tigers”—and lower‑level workers, called “flies, ” are under scrutiny. The focus of the crackdown is on how public money and resources are misused.This includes state‑owned businesses, bank loans, infrastructure projects, and local government spending. In the same week, another former party member, Hou Weidong of the Bank of Communications, was also removed from the party. He allegedly took gifts and borrowed large sums, while others covered his expenses in a case still under review. Two local government figures were also punished. Jin Zhizhen, a former vice‑chair of a regional advisory body, was expelled from the party and stripped of his post. Zhou Xi’an received a suspended death sentence after accepting over 134 million yuan in bribes. The moves illustrate China’s relentless push to root out corruption at all levels, showing that no position is beyond reach.