In recent years, there have been frequent reports of corruption among officials in the Chinese Communist Party’s military industry. Recently, Tan Ruisong, the former Party Secretary and Chairman of China Aviation Industry Group Co., Ltd., was reported on August 5 for suspected corruption, bribery, insider trading, and leaking insider information. He has been indicted by the Dalian Intermediate People’s Court.
According to the announcement posted on August 5 on the official website of the Supreme People’s Procuratorate of the CCP, Tan Ruisong was charged with using his position for personal gain, illegally accepting large sums of money from others, engaging in securities trading related to insider information during sensitive periods, and repeatedly leaking insider information. He faces charges of corruption, bribery, insider trading, and leaking insider information.
Public records show that Tan Ruisong, born in February 1962 in You County, Hunan, has held various positions including Vice Chairman and General Manager of Harbin Dong’an Automotive Engine Manufacturing Company, Chairman and Party Secretary of Harbin Aviation Industry (Group) Co., Ltd.
In 2004, Tan Ruisong became Deputy General Manager of China Aviation Industry Corporation II. In 2008, he was appointed Deputy General Manager of China Aviation Industry Group, and in 2012, he became the General Manager and Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of China Aviation Industry Group. In May 2018, he took on the roles of Chairman and Party Secretary of China Aviation Industry Group, but was relieved of his duties in March 2023.
Tan Ruisong came under investigation for serious violations of discipline and the law in August 2024. In February 2025, he was expelled from the Party for “eating and exploiting military industry resources” and embezzling substantial public funds. On March 17, Tan Ruisong was arrested on charges of corruption and bribery. Finally, on August 5, he was officially indicted.
Over the past year, there have been numerous leadership changes within the China Aviation Industry Group, with many members coming from the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC).
In March 2024, the former General Manager of COMAC, Zhou Xinmin, was appointed Chairman of China Aviation Industry. In January 2025, the former Assistant General Manager of COMAC, Guo Shengjie, was named Deputy General Manager of the Aviation Industry Group.
Shortly after, Wei Yingbiao, the former Deputy General Manager of COMAC, was appointed as the General Manager of China Aviation Industry Group. Joining him in the new appointments was Wu Rongxin, the former Deputy General Manager of China Southern Airlines Group, who became the Deputy General Manager of China Aviation Industry.
Following the appointments of Wei Yingbiao and Wu Rongxin, the former General Manager of China Aviation Industry Group, Hao Zhaoping, and Deputy General Manager Yang Wei were unexpectedly dismissed. On January 18, their profiles were removed from the official website of China Aviation Industry Group.
Hao Zhaoping, born in 1968, has not yet reached retirement age. Yang Wei, born in 1963, was elected as an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2017. He has held various positions in aircraft design and research, including being the chief designer for the third-generation fighter, the J-10, and the chief designer of the CCP’s stealth fighter, the J-20.
China Aviation Industry Group Co., Ltd. is a super large state-owned enterprise established in 2008 from the restructuring and integration of the former China Aviation Industry Corporation I and II. The group is involved in the aviation weapons equipment, military transport aircraft, helicopters, airborne systems, general aviation, aviation research, flight testing, aviation supply chain and military trade, specialized equipment, automotive components, asset management, finance, and engineering construction industries, with over 100 member units and around 400,000 employees.