China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) General Manager Changes: Chen Shaoyang Succeeds Gong Bo
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) has announced a change in leadership, with Chen Shaoyang taking over the role of General Manager from the long-unseen Gong Bo. Over the past two years, amid a sweeping anti-corruption campaign within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) military and defense industry, many high-ranking officials have fallen from grace, with a number having previously served in positions at China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.
On April 17th, the official website of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Group Limited (referred to as “CASC”) updated its information to reveal that Chen Shaoyang, former Deputy General Manager of China Aviation Engine Group, has been promoted to Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, Director, and General Manager of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, succeeding Gong Bo.
According to Caixin, 59-year-old Gong Bo has not made any public appearances for some time and his next assignment has yet to be announced.
Public records show that in July 1999, China Aerospace Corporation was divided into China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation and China Aero-Machinery Corporation. In July 2001, China Aero-Machinery Corporation was renamed China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, and in November 2017, it was renamed China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Group Limited. The company is mainly engaged in the research, design, manufacturing, launch, and maintenance of missile and aerospace industry equipment as a large state-owned enterprise.
In the past two years, several high-ranking officials who were once employed at China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation have been implicated in corruption investigations within the CCP, with many initially disappearing from public view before being officially charged.
Among them, Chen Guoying, former General Manager of China Weapons Equipment Group, had a long tenure at China Aerospace Corporation and China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. He served as Deputy General Manager of CASC Group in May 2018, became a Director and Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee in November 2020, and assumed the role of Director and General Manager of China Weapons Equipment Group in February 2022.
Liu Shiquan, former Chairman of China Weapons Industry Group, also had extensive work experience at China Aerospace Corporation, Aero-Machinery Group, and China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. He was appointed Deputy General Manager of CASC Group in January 2013, became a Director and General Manager in February 2019, and took over as Chairman of China Weapons Industry Group in May 2022.
Yuan Jie, Chairman of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Group, had previously worked at China Aerospace Corporation (later China Aerospace Science and Technology Group) and held positions such as Deputy General Manager, Director, and General Manager. He assumed the role of Chairman of CASC Group in June 2020.
Since the end of last year, the current National People’s Congress Standing Committee member and former Secretary of the Hunan Provincial Party Committee, Xu Dazhe, has been rumored to have encountered troubles. Xu Dazhe had a long career at China Aerospace Corporation and later served as Deputy General Manager of China Aerospace Science and Technology Group and as General Manager of CASC Group from June 2007 to April 2013.
Jiao Jige, former Secretary of the Hunan Aerospace Party Committee, who fell from grace in January 2025, had worked at China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Group for a long time and held positions such as Director of the Sixth Research Institute and Deputy Director of Base 061. He served as Deputy General Manager of Hunan Aerospace under CASC Group in 2017, became General Manager in 2019, and in July 2021, took on the roles of Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman, also serving as Director (Bureau Chief) of a base within China Aerospace Science and Technology Group (Hunan Aerospace Administration).
Zhang Hongwen, member of the Anhui Provincial Committee and Secretary of the Hefei Municipal Party Committee, was removed from his position in March this year after being “missing” for several months. He had served as Director of the Third Institute, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, and Chief Researcher of CASC Group, among other positions. He had also held roles as Vice Governor of Anhui Province, member of the Provincial Committee, and Secretary of the Hefei Municipal Party Committee since 2020.
Long Fei, former Chief of the Discipline Inspection and Supervision Group of China Southern Power Grid, who was investigated in February 2024, stood trial on March 21st this year. Long Fei previously served as the private secretary and office director within the Aero-Machinery Group (later CASC), holding various roles such as Secretary in the General Manager’s Office at China Aero-Machinery Corporation from 2000 to 2023. During his tenure at China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Group’s office, he was alleged to have received illicit benefits.
According to analysis by a commentator for Radio Free Asia, Xu Dazhe and Zhang Hongwen may have been implicated by former CASC executive Long Fei. Long Fei had served as a secretary in the office of Aero-Machinery Group and later as Deputy Director and Director of the office in China Aerospace Science and Technology Group. Based on the timeline, it is believed that his service targets at the time included Xu Dazhe.