Breaking | Non-combat role: Xi Jinping’s military spearhead against corruption takes on new job with NPC

The colourful general who set off an unprecedented anti-graft campaign in the military has been sworn in as a vice-chairman of the national legislature’s economic and finance committee.

China Central Television reported yesterday that Liu Yuan, wearing civilian clothes, went through the formalities with other appointees to the National People’s Congress, which begins its annual session on Friday.

Liu, 64, former political commissar of the People’s Liberation Army’s former general logistics department, played a high-profile role in President Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign. He is said to be the man behind the downfall of former PLA logistics deputy head Gu Junshan, and former Central Military Commission vice-chairmen Guo Boxiong and Xu Caihou.

“It’s not a surprise for Liu to be appointed as a vice-chairman of an NPC committee – it’s common practice for retired senior officials,” a Beijing-based retired senior colonel said. “The NPC is an ideal platform for them to transition to retirement.”

READ MORE: Liu Yuan - a princeling with a humble image

As a key figure in Xi’s corruption crackdown in the army, Liu was once tipped to join the CMC, which Xi chairs, but he suddenly announced his retirement on December 23.