– Strike hard –
Xi has vowed to crack down on endemic graft among top party members, or “tigers”, as well as low-ranking members, or “flies”, but critics say he is unlikely to succeed without more fundamental reforms such as greater press freedoms and independent courts.
Joseph Cheng, professor of political science at City University of Hong Kong, said the move demonstrates Xi “understands that striking hard at corrupt leaders will make him a very popular leader, will help him consolidate his base of power”.
News of the probe came as Communist Party authorities announced that their next major political meeting – known as the Fourth Plenum – will be held in October and focus on “key issues concerning the rule of law”.
Zhou Yongkang’s son, Zhou Bin, has also reportedly been arrested in Yichang in central China for suspected “illegal business operations”, respected financial magazine Caijing said.
Calls by AFP to the Yichang municipal procuratorate went unanswered, and state-run media had not reported on the younger Zhou as of late Tuesday.
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