Zhou Yongkang hears his sentence at the Tianjin No.1 Intermediate People’s Court on June 11 (SCREENSHOT)

On June 11, Zhou Yongkang, 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 by the Tianjin No.1 Intermediate People's Court for accepting bribes, abusing his power and deliberately disclosing state secrets.

So far, Zhou is the highest-ranking official to be taken down by the ongoing anti-corruption drive in China.

Following Zhou's sentence, the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, on July 30, decided to expel Guo Boxiong, who served as vice chairman of the Central Military Commission from 2002 to 2012, from the Party for taking bribes. Guo's case and the relevant evidence have been transferred to military prosecutors in accordance with the law.

On October 12, the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee adopted new regulations for clean governance and penalties for those who violate the Party's code of conduct. This move updated the existing rules following the launch of its anti-corruption drive.