The withholding of the investigation report appears particularly ironic when it is recalled that a Chinese attorney served as Secretary General of ICAO for six years, 2015-2021. Prior to that role, Dr. Fang Liu served for eight years as Director of ICAO's Bureau of Administration and Services.
Admittedly the competition and/or conflict (potential or actual) posed by the People's Republic can skew understanding of Chinese government decisions and processes. That being said, for a distinguished aviation attorney and diplomat to have served in those ICAO roles, but their government appearing later to simply disregard settled norms pertaining to accident investigation, is concerning . . . . or if not concerning, it's ironic at least.
As for the KAL 007 shootdown, although I was not much aware of ICAO affairs in that time period or during the later investigation - and haven't studied the history too very intensely - I don't recall an aviation attorney and diplomat from USSR having held such high-level posts at the Organization . . . then or subsequently.
(Incidentally, in a few interactions with Dr. Fang Liu during her SecGen service, in Q&A at public appearances and related settings, she was cordial and matter-of-fact, and the responses she provided appeared thoroughly sincere - my comment here is in no manner or respect meant as a slight to her personal integrity.)
Last edited by WillowRun 6-3; 7th July 2025 at 01:47.