What’s new: Liu Yuejin, former counterterrorism commissioner of the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) and a decorated police officer, is under investigation by the country’s top graft busters.
Liu is being probed by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection for “serious violations of discipline and law,” the Communist Party watchdog said in a one-line statement Monday, using a common euphemism for corruption.
Liu, 65, was the first and only MPS anti-terrorism commissioner, serving from 2015 to 2020. He was also elected as a member of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, the country’s top political advisory body, in 2018.
The background: The MPS established the counterterrorism commissioner role, a vice-ministerial-level position, in December 2015, when China passed the Counterterrorism Law. There have been no other commissioners publicly announced after Liu.
China has a national counterterrorism leadership group under the State Council, the country’s cabinet, comprised of members from departments including public security, military and foreign affairs. Typically, it is led by the minister of public security. Liu attended meetings as one of the deputy heads of the group in 2018.
Liu spent a decades-long career within the police force and has extensive experience working in the anti-drug sector.
During his tenure as the director of the MPS’ Narcotics Control Bureau, Liu headed an investigation that led to the arrest of a ringleader involved in the high-profile Mekong River incident, where 13 Chinese sailors were killed on the border of Myanmar and Thailand in 2011. Liu was awarded a second class Order of the Heroic Exemplar for his contribution.
Contact reporter Kelly Wang (jingzhewang@caixin.com) and editor Jonathan Breen (jonathanbreen@caixin.com)
