By Li Hongmei

A spokesman for China's top political advisory body sidestepped a question about the country's former security chief yesterday, telling reporters: "You know what I mean."

At a press conference ahead of annual political meetings in Beijing, a reporter with the South China Morning Post asked about online reports concerning Zhou Yongkang, the former head of the Party's Commission for Political and Legal Affairs and also a former member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Party's Central Committee.

The Party has yet to make a formal announcement on his fate, and there has been widespread speculation about what has happened to him.

"Actually, I also merely got some information from handful of media like you, but I will try to answer your question in this way," spokesman Lu Xinhua said, adding that the government had investigated corruption cases involving many Party officials, including 31 high ranking officials.

"We are doing this to demonstrate to the whole Party and the whole society that when we see that anyone violates law and Party discipline they will be investigated and dealt with severely, and no matter who they are or what their position is, we mean it."

Lu added: "This is all I can say. You know what I mean."

Lu's comment was greeted with laughter from those in the room.

The phrase "You know what I mean" has since become a popular buzzword among China's Internet community.

Xinhua news agency later published a short commentary online, saying the government will crack down on anyone violating the law and Party discipline and ended the piece with "You know what I mean."

The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) opens its annual session today.