Rising political star, former top aide to China’s Vice-President Li Yuanchao, put under probe for corruption

A rising political star and the former right-hand man of Vice-President Li Yuanchao is under investigation for suspected serious violations of Communist Party discipline, a euphemism for corruption.

The party’s graft watchdog, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, announced the investigation into Jiangsu vice-governor Li Yunfeng in a statement on its website on Monday.

Li Yunfeng, 59, was the director of the provincial party committee’s general office between 2003 and 2007, when Li Yuanchao was Jiangsu’s party secretary.

He was generally regarded as one of Li Yuanchao’s top aides when the latter oversaw the province.

The 59-year-old became an alternate member of the party’s Central Committee during the 18th national congress in late 2012, when Li Yuanchao was the top official in charge of promoting senior cadres.