Since Xi Jinping became general secretary of the Communist party in November 2012, China has been convulsed by the biggest anti-corruption drive in its post-1949 history. Nearly 63,000 party officials have been punished, including more than 30 very senior figures. Almost 70 officials under investigation have committed suicide. The campaign reached a new crescendo when, after months of rumours, a formal investigation was launched into Zhou Yongkang, until 2012 a member of the nine-man Standing Committee that runs China.
It is hard to exaggerate the significance of Mr Zhou’s detention. Until he retired in 2012, the former head of state security was one of the most powerful men in China. A former boss of the state-run China National Petroleum Corp, he had huge sway over the oil industry.
His investigation breaks an important taboo. For 25 years, current or former members of the Standing Committee have been spared prosecution. Now the gloves are off. The question is: why? On the face of it, Mr Xi’s actions deserve applause. They have certainly proved popular with Chinese people, who this week flooded the internet with messages of support for the president’s all-out assault. The Communist party is riddled with corruption, putting a serious strain on its legitimacy. Bringing down an untouchable like Mr Zhou sends a message to the Chinese public that the party is serious about cleaning house.