Liu Zhiqiang (; born July 1963) is a former Chinese politician who served as Vice Minister of Justice from January 2016 to June 2023. As of April 2024 he was under investigation by China's top anti-graft watchdog.

Early life and education

Liu was born in Juancheng County,

Shandong Shandong is a coastal Provinces of China, province in East China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history since the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River. It has served as a pivotal cultural ...

, in July 1963. In 1980, he enrolled at the College of International Relations (now Chinese People's University of Police Officers), where he majored in English.

Career

After graduating in 1984, Liu was assigned to the Foreign Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security. He joined the

Chinese Communist Party The Communist Party of China (CPC), also translated into English as Chinese Communist Party (CCP), is the founding and One-party state, sole ruling party of the People's Republic of China (PRC). Founded in 1921, the CCP emerged victorious in the ...

(CCP) in December 1986. He served at the bureau for 20 years, ultimately being appointed director in February 2004. He became director of the International Cooperation Bureau in October 2005, and served until June 2012. In June 2012, Liu was transferred to

northwest China Northwestern China () is a region in the People's Republic of China. It consists of five provincial administrative regions, namely Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai, Ningxia, and Xinjiang. The region is characterized by a (semi-)arid continental climate. ...

Qinghai Qinghai is an inland Provinces of China, province in Northwestern China. It is the largest provinces of China, province of China (excluding autonomous regions) by area and has the third smallest population. Its capital and largest city is Xin ...

province. He was appointed vice governor of Qinghai, concurrently serving as secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission and head of Qinghai Provincial Public Security Department. He took office as vice minister of justice in January 2016, and held that office until June 2023.

Downfall

On 30 April 2024, Liu was put under investigation for alleged "serious violations of discipline and laws" by the

Central Commission for Discipline Inspection The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) is the highest supervisory organ of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The CCDI is elected and supervised by the National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, CCP National Congress. ...

(CCDI), the party's internal disciplinary body, and the

National Supervisory Commission The National Supervisory Commission is the highest supervisory and anti-corruption authority of the People's Republic of China. Formed in 2018 by an 2018 amendment to the Constitution of China, amendment to the Constitution of China, Constitut ...

, the highest anti-corruption agency of China. During Liu's tenure as vice minister, all three of his superiors were sacked for graft, namely Wu Aiying, Fu Zhenghua, and Tang Yijun.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Liu, Zhiqiang 1963 births Living people People from Heze Alumni of the University of Exeter People's Republic of China politicians from Shandong Chinese Communist Party politicians from Shandong