Public Security Minister Sun Lijun Under Investigation For Discipline Violations

China's main anti-corruption watchdog has launched an investigation against the country's deputy public security minister for alleged discipline violations. The official, whose responsibilities include heading Hong Kong's security affairs, is the latest target in the Chinese government's ongoing efforts to weed out corruption among its ranks.

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection issued a statement on Sunday revealing that it has launched an investigation on the activities of public security minister Sun Lijun. The official is being investigated for serious violations but the agency did not specify what those violations were.

The investigation follows a similar move by the agency against another deputy security minister, Meng Hongwei. The former minister and former Interpol head had since disappeared after he was sentenced to 13 years in prison for corruption and bribery back in January.

According to reports citing sources close to the matter, Sun previously served as a secretary to Meng Jianzhu, a member of the Communist Party's Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission. It is not yet clear if the investigation is related to Sun's previous position.

The office of the Ministry of Public Security issued a response over the weekend, stating that it supporting the investigation and that its implementation was "timely and correct." The statement indicated that ministry officials were aware that Sun had, for a long time, ignored the government's political discipline and rules and that it was high time that he be investigated for his actions.

The Ministry added that it is supportive of President Xi Jinping's continued fight against corruption in China. Sun's biography on the ministry's website has since been removed. The ministry has yet to determine who will be replacing Sun's position.

Sun, who held a master's degree in public health management and graduated from the University of New South Wales in Australia, served as one of 12 members of the party committee of the ministry. He led the powerful First Bureau, a committee responsible for domestic political security and the decision-making body for Hong Kong's security affairs.

In 2017, Sun was the ministry's director of the office of Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan affairs. During that time, he signed a deal with Hong Kong Secretary for Security John Lee Ka-Chiu as part of an agreement involving mutual information-sharing regarding detained residents.

Sun's last publicly-known activity was when he became involved in the efforts to control the coronavirus spread in Wuhan. Last month, he publicly commended several officers for their work during the lockdown.