Unveiling Liu Jianming's Exposure in Infernal Affairs III
This article explores how Liu Jianming's identity as Han Chen's mole was exposed in Infernal Affairs III, highlighting crucial details you may have missed.
The Internal Affairs Investigation
The film picks up shortly after Infernal Affairs. Ten months after Ah Ren's death, Liu Jianming faces another Internal Affairs investigation. His testimony claims Ah Ren initiated the rooftop meeting to disclose Han Chen's mole network, but Big B intervened, leading to a deadly confrontation where Big B killed Ah Ren and Liu Jianming killed Big B. The absence of elevator footage and Big B's association with Han Chen lead Internal Affairs to rule Liu Jianming's actions justifiable.
During the investigation, Liu Jianming is reassigned to the administrative department, a.k.a the back-office. However, his imminent return to Internal Affairs is already planned. His administrative duties involve laundering uniforms and managing parking requests.
The Key Incident and Chen Jun's Case
One day, while delivering cleaned uniforms to Inspector Chen Jun of the Security Department, a key falls from the clothing. Liu Jianming pockets it without much thought.
Earlier, at a nightclub, Security Chief Yeung Kam-wing apprehended two arms dealers from Taiwan. He had the nightclub owner assault them first, leveraging a false accusation of drug possession to ensure compliance. This detail about the arms dealers will become significant later.
Liu Jianming arrives at the Security Department to find it in chaos. Chen Jun is pointing a gun at Yeung Kam-wing, threatening him. A gunshot rings out, and Yeung Kam-wing emerges unharmed. A month later, Liu Jianming returns to Internal Affairs, partnering with Officer Cheung. His first case involves Chen Jun's supposed suicide.
Unraveling a Conspiracy
The case file identifies a letter found on Chen Jun containing recorded conversations with Han Chen, proving him to be a mole. Furthermore, several officers have died or disappeared recently, all connected to Han Chen. Authorities suspect a mole is trying to erase their tracks after Han Chen's death, a revelation that deeply unsettles Liu Jianming.
He recalls Big B mentioning intercepted recordings of moles communicating with Han Chen, saved only by an insider who destroyed them. This triggers Liu Jianming to begin eliminating the remaining moles. He starts with Chen Jun, remembering the key he found.
Exposure at the Administrative Department
He asks Officer Cheung to investigate Chen Jun's connections while secretly retrieving the key from the administrative department. This act of urgency exposes him to Yeung Kam-wing.
A conversation ensues, filled with revealing details. Yeung Kam-wing inquires about his parking request and mentions he was on leave in Beijing for a month—coinciding with the events of Infernal Affairs. Yeung Kam-wing cleverly notices that Liu Jianming has moved back to Internal Affairs so he wonders why he would need to go back to the administrative department. He claims to be retrieving Chen Jun's uniform for investigation, raising further suspicion since the case was closed as a suicide. Yeung Kam-wing realizes Liu Jianming might be secretly investigating the police moles.
Yeung Kam-wing's Strategy
Yeung Kam-wing has Shen Cheng arrive in Hong Kong to assist. This first encounter marks the beginning of Liu Jianming's downfall. As they leave, Yeung Kam-wing asks if they've met before. Liu Jianming denies it, falsely claiming he wasn't present when Ah Ren assaulted Shen Liang. Yeung Kam-wing is aware that he is lying.
Further Investigation and Suspicions
Officer Cheung uncovers Chen Jun's connection to a bowling alley and finds photos of Shen Cheng with Yeung Kam-wing, leading him to suspect Yeung Kam-wing is a mole. This revelation adds to Liu Jianming's paranoia.
Liu Jianming sees Shen Cheng at Ah Ren's grave after visiting with Dr. Lee, further intensifying his suspicions. Shen Cheng and Yeung Kam-wing begin their joint "ghost-catching" operation, which is a plan to expose Liu Jianming.
Flashback: 2002 and Han Chen's Ambitions
A flashback reveals Han Chen's ambition to expand his operations into mainland China in 2002. Shen Cheng and his brother, Shen Liang, arrive in Hong Kong to discuss business. Shen Liang's boastful demeanor about their connections raises Han Chen's suspicion. Han Chen engages Saam to negotiate with the brothers to test them.
Ah Ren delivers photos of Han Chen and Shen Cheng to Chief Wong but lacks details of their business.
The Restaurant Incident
Han Chen orders Ah Ren to assault Shen Liang during negotiations. Ah Ren does this by slamming an ashtray on Shen Liang's head. Moments later, Yeung Kam-wing arrives and arrests them. This raid was pre-arranged by Han Chen and Yeung Kam-wing. The famous scene of the six actors occurs at the police station.
Yeung Kam-wing acknowledges Ah Ren, cautioning him, which in fact is a form of caring as he needs to be careful as an undercover cop. Shen Cheng reluctantly signs a waiver instead of pressing charges. Han Chen's purpose was to show Shen Cheng who's boss and the degree to which he wields influence within the police.
Later, Han Chen brings Shen Cheng to the restaurant where Ah Ren is located and offers Ah Ren to Shen Cheng's men for retaliation. To show goodwill, Saam smashes a beer bottle on his head. Shen Cheng hits Ah Ren with the bottle to even the score. Now that they are even, Han Chen and Shen Cheng can cooperate.
Despite this, Han Chen is still suspicious of Shen Cheng. Han Chen is unsure why Shen Cheng didn't kill Ah Ren when he had the chance and suspects Shen Cheng. Han Chen assigns the China business to Ah Ren to act as a pawn.
Psychological Treatment
In 2002, Ah Ren attends therapy with Dr. Lee as arranged by Chief Wong.
The Stolen Computer
Back in 2003, Liu Jianming discovers Ah Ren's files on Dr. Lee's computer and leaves the door unlocked. He returns later to steal it. This act further exposes Liu Jianming, because Yeung Kam-wing only suspected that Liu Jianming was a mole, but he did not have enough evidence.
The Surveillance Operation
Liu Jianming begins investigating Yeung Kam-wing. Based on photos, he suspects Yeung Kam-wing to be a mole and that he might have the recordings of Liu Jianming and Han Chen in a safe. He installs surveillance equipment in Yeung Kam-wing's office and places his car parked next to Yeung Kam-wing's and places tracking devices and cameras on his car.
Yeung Kam-wing already has cameras in his car and knew what Liu Jianming was doing. Yeung Kam-wing sets up Liu Jianming and lures him out.
Descending into Paranoia
Liu Jianming, suffering from paranoia, watches Yeung Kam-wing put a tape into the mailbox. He burns all the letters in the mailbox.
Shen Cheng sees the burned mailbox and leaves because he knows who the mole is.
Dr. Lee's Trap
Dr. Lee reports the stolen computer to the police. She suspects Liu Jianming. She leaves out her car license plate number on the table to trick Liu Jianming into revealing that he knows the password to the computer is her car's license number.
Unlocking the Past
Liu Jianming opens the computer and watches Ah Ren's therapy session. Ah Ren is resistant to Dr. Lee's hypnosis because he is afraid that his identity will be revealed. They develop feelings for each other.
Ah Ren follows Han Chen to a library and discovers that Han Chen and Yeung Kam-wing have been working together. Ah Ren runs into Dr. Lee.
Ah Ren and Saam meet Shen Cheng at the docks. Han Chen doesn't show, making Shen Cheng mad.
The Final Descent
Back in 2003, Liu Jianming is losing his mind. He hears the voice of Ah Ren. He sees that the Security Department needs water and sends water to them, but the water has been drugged.