Handling of case will 'test pledge' to rule by law
The party's fourth plenum commitments will soon be put under the spotlight, analysts say
How the Communist Party leadership and judiciary treat the case of former security tsar Zhou Yongkang will be the first true test of President Xi Jinping's ambition to promote government accountability and rule by law, analysts say.
The party promoted the principle of rule by law for the first time in its history at the fourth plenum in October.
Zhiqun Zhu, director of Bucknell University's China Institute, said Zhou's case would be a litmus test because it would be subject to the judiciary, not simply internal party disciplinary procedures.
"How transparent the investigation and ensuing trial are will reveal a lot about whether the party is serious about implementing rule by law," Zhu said.
Xigen Li, an associate professor at City University's department of media and communication, said that through his handling of Zhou's case Xi had delivered a powerful message to both serving and retired senior officials that their positions and connections would not protect them from the consequences of their wrongdoing.
But it remained to be seen whether the decision on Zhou was a turning point in government accountability or was intended merely as a warning to corrupt cadres. "The case is sending a powerful message that Xi is serious about rooting out graft among the elite 'tigers' as well as lowly 'flies'," Li said.