The Communist Party of China (CPC) announced on Tuesday an investigation into Zhou Yongkang, the latest and highest ranking "tiger" in the anti-corruption campaign's crosshairs.
The investigation of Zhou, a former Standing Committee member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, for suspected "serious disciplinary violations" will be conducted by the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI).
Top leaders are resolved to target both high-ranking "tigers" and low-ranking "flies" in their anti-corruption effort. After taking the helm at the CPC in November 2012, Xi Jinping has led efforts in fighting corruption, calling on the whole Party to stay on full alert, and describing corruption as a threat to the Party's very survival. Xi vowed that there would be "no exceptions": No leniency will be meted out no matter who is involved.
The downfall of a "big tiger" like Zhou could have a deterrent effect on Party members and corrupt officials who believe they are immune.According to the CCDI website, around 40 officials of provincial and ministerial level or higher have been investigated for corruption or other serious disciplinary violations since November 2012.
Xu Caihou, former vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission, was expelled from the CPC for bribery last month and may face prosecution.
Also in June, authorities announced the investigation into Su Rong, then vice chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, who was previously Party chief of several provinces.
Then China's Public Security Minister Zhou Yongkang reacts as he attends the Hebei delegation discussion sessions at the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing in this October 16, 2007 file photo. [Photo/Agencies]
Profile of Zhou Yongkang >> More
Zhou was born in Wuxi, East China's Jiangsu province, in December 1942. Joined the Communist Party of China in November 1964 and began working in September 1966. Graduated from the Exploration Department, Beijing Petroleum Institute, majoring in geophysical exploration. With a university education. Senior engineer with a rank equivalent to professor.
Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau, state councilor and member of the Leading Party Members' Group of the State Council, deputy secretary of the Political and Legislative Affairs Committee of the CPC Central Committee, and minister and Party secretary of the Ministry of Public Security.
1961-1966 Student of geophysical exploration at the Exploration Department, Beijing Petroleum Institute
1966-1967 Stayed at the Institute waiting for job assignment
1967-1970 Intern, technician of the geological survey team of No. 673 Factory, Daqing Oilfield
1970-1973 Technician, Party branch secretary and brigade leader of the regional office, Geological Survey Regiment, Liaohe Oil Exploration Campaign Headquarters
1973-1976 Director, Geophysical Exploration Division, Liaohe Oil Exploration Bureau (LOEB)
1976-1979 Deputy director, Political Department, LOEB
1979-1983 Deputy director general of LOEB and concurrently Party secretary of LOEB Drilling Headquarters, Party secretary and concurrently commander of LOEB Geophysical Exploration Headquarters
1983-1985 Director general and deputy Party secretary of LOEB, and deputy Party secretary and mayor of Panjin, Liaoning Province
1985-1988 Vice-minister of the Ministry of Petroleum Industry and member of the Ministry's Leading Party Members' Group
1988-1996 Deputy general manager and deputy secretary of the Leading Party Members' Group of China National Petroleum and Natural Gas Corporation (1989-1990: concurrently commander of Tarim Oil Exploration Campaign Headquarters and secretary of its provisional Party committee; and Party secretary and director general of Shengli Petroleum Administration, and Party secretary of Dongying, Shandong Province)
1996-1998 General manager of China National Petroleum and Natural Gas Corporation and secretary of its Leading Party Members' Group
1998-1999 Minister of the Ministry of Land and Recourses and secretary of the Ministry's Leading Party Members' Group
1999-2002 Secretary of the Sichuan Provincial Party Committee
2002-2003 Member of the Political Bureau and member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, deputy secretary of the Political and Legislative Affairs Committee of the CPC Central Committee, and minister and Party secretary of the Ministry of Public Security
2003-2007 Member of the Political Bureau and member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, state councilor and member of the Leading Party Members' Group of the State Council, deputy secretary of the Political and Legislative Affairs Committee of the CPC Central Committee, and minister and Party secretary of the Ministry of Public Security
2007- Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau (to 2012.11), state councilor and member of the Leading Party Members' Group of the State Council (to 2008.3), deputy secretary of the Political and Legislative Affairs Committee of the CPC Central Committee (to 2012.11), and minister and Party secretary of the Ministry of Public Security
Alternate member of the Fourteenth CPC Central Committee, member of the Fifteenth, Sixteenth and Seventeenth CPC Central Committees, member of the Political Bureau and member of the Secretariat of the Sixteenth CPC Central Committee, member of the Political Bureau of the Seventeenth CPC Central Committee and its Standing Committee.
No "safe box" in discipline enforcement: People's Daily
A commentary to be published in Wednesday's People's Daily, flagship newspaper of the Communist Party of China (CPC) pledges no exception in the Party's discipline enforcement.
Authorities announced on Tuesday that the CPC Central Committee has decided to place former senior official Zhou Yongkang under investigation for suspected "serious disciplinary violation." >> More
