China Headlines-Commentary: Trial of Zhou Yongkang displays rule of law resolve

The trial and sentence of Zhou Yongkang sends a clear signal: China is determined to fight corruption with full commitment to the rule of law.

Zhou, a former member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, was sentenced to life imprisonment Thursday for accepting bribes, abusing his power and deliberately disclosing state secrets, Tianjin Municipal No. 1 Intermediate People's Court ruled.

He was also deprived of his political rights for life and had his personal assets confiscated.

His trial shows that in China today, no one is above the law -- anyone who abuses their power, who breaks the law, or any CPC member who violates Party discipline, will feel the full force of the law. No one is beyond reproach.

The feature of rule of law in the fight against corruption is a natural corollary of China's efforts to implement the strategic layout of the "Four Comprehensives"-- comprehensively building a moderately prosperous society, deepening reform, advancing the rule of law and strictly governing the Party.

In his final statement at the court, Zhou accepted the charges, saying: "The basic facts are clear. I plead guilty and repent my wrongdoing."

The public expressed their support of the verdict, with many saying justice had been done.

Zhou's incarceration shows that the promises made by the CPC, led by Xi Jinping -- with vows to "hunt tigers" and "swat flies" and to "lock up power in the cage of system" -- are not just empty words. The CPC is fully committed to fighting corruption within the framework of rule of law.

The probe into "tigers" (senior corrupt officials) such as Su Rong, Xu Caihou and Ling Jihua, also demonstrate the unprecedented resolve and strength of the CPC to root out corruption.

Meanwhile, cases targeting lower-level "flies" have been celebrated by the general public as they relate to their immediate interests.

In the fight against corruption all legal and disciplinary rules have been properly observed, winning both the anti-graft drive and the commitment to the rule of law the backing of the public.

To regulate power within the Party and the government, administrative systems and rules for discipline inspection, such as the nomination of discipline inspection heads, have been implemented.

Measures to curb "naked officials", those whose family members are all abroad, and the campaign to capture corrupt officials who have fled overseas are also being carried out in accordance with law.

All these concepts on governing the country and use of power in line with the law have been clearly spelt out at key plenary sessions of the 18th CPC Central Committee in 2013 and 2014.

In a meeting earlier this year, Xi told leading officials to be bastions of the drive to consolidate the rule of law, remarks which were believed to have been made with a deep understanding of the harm of unrestricted power.

Zhou's case illustrates that the CPC -- the world's largest ruling party with more than 80 million members, 94 years of history and 66 years in power -- can face up to and solve its problems. Endi