Chinese spymaster Ma Jian detained in corruption purge

One of China's most powerful spymasters has become the latest victim of the country's fierce anti-corruption campaign.

Ma Jian, vice-minister at the Ministry of State Security, has been detained on suspicion of alleged corruption in a case with possible ties to separate investigations involving two of China's most senior former officials, according to people familiar with the matter.

Mr Ma has been in charge of counter-intelligence at the all-powerful spy agency for nearly a decade and was credited with at least two recent high-profile arrests of alleged foreign spies in high positions within the MSS.

Mr Ma's detention comes as China's defence, intelligence and security establishment is still reeling from the fallout of the arrest of Zhou Yongkang, the former Politburo Standing Committee member responsible for China's ubiquitous internal security apparatus.

One person with knowledge of the matter said Mr Ma's detention was related to corruption allegations involving Mr Zhou and billions of renminbi in business carried out by his associates in the southwestern province of Yunnan.

Chinese media reports have suggested the detention could be linked to Ling Jihua, the former top aide to retired President Hu Jintao, who was detained just before Christmas and is also accused of corruption.

Both Mr Ling and Mr Ma are reportedly involved in a high-profile investigation into Founder Group, a Peking University-owned technology and financial services company.

Last week Founder Securities, the Shanghai-listed subsidiary of Founder Group, filed a statement with the Shanghai stock exchange announcing that its chairman, chief executive, president and vice-president had all been detained by the authorities to "assist with an investigation".

As befits a top spy chief, there is almost no public information available on Mr Ma but he is well known in the international intelligence community.

As head of counter-intelligence he was credited in 2012 with catching two senior officials within the MSS, one who had allegedly been recruited by the US Central Intelligence Agency and one who was working for North Korea.

Since Zhou Yongkang stepped down from his position as head of the security apparatus two years ago, hundreds of agents have been purged or quietly removed from the MSS.

Western analysts say that the current minister of state security, Geng Huichang, is in effect a lame duck with no real power.

"In a recent joint meeting with visiting dignitaries, Meng Jianzhu [the man who replaced Zhou Yongkang as head of China's legal and security apparatus] treated Geng like he was something he might find on the bottom of his shoe," said one person familiar with the matter. "It's quite clear Geng has been sidelined and is just trying to hang on until he retires in 2017."

The anti-corruption campaign that has ripped through the ranks of China's civilian leadership has been mirrored by an equally vociferous purge of the People's Liberation Army.

At least 15,000 officers have been called in for questioning in the past six months in relation to rampant corruption within the senior ranks of China's massive military, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

Mr Ma, Mr Ling and Mr Zhou could not be reached for comment.

The Ministry of State Security does not comment publicly and does not provide any way for the public or media to contact it.

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