Progress in transparency

The trial of Bo saw an attendance of more than 100 people, including his relatives.

For the entire duration of the trial, the Jinan Intermediate People's Court used Sina Weibo, a popular Twitter-like micro-blogging service, to deliver a running account of court proceedings. On account of the trial, the number of followers of the court's micro-blog saw a sixty-fold increase from 10,000 on August 22 to almost 600,000 by August 28. The court also arranged a media lobby at a nearby hotel to provide a live feed of trial details to reporters.

"This is the first time details of a former senior Chinese official's trial have been released to the public in real-time . In the past, such trials took place behind closed doors, with details being released only after sentencing," said Li Zhuang, a lawyer in Beijing.

Li said that open trials of officials like Bo mark great progress in China's judicial system and serve as a serious warning that those violating the law should not deceive themselves into believing that they can evade legal punishment through good luck.

"The decision to share court proceedings through micro-blogging came as a direct response to claims against the transparency and legitimacy of China's political and legal systems. For the public, it was also a vivid lesson on how the rule of law must be respected," Li said.

Wang Peng, an editor with Shandong Electronic Audio and Video Publishing House, observed the trial.

"Sitting in the courtroom, I learnt many of the case's details," he said. "I believe the court will make a fair judgment."

Liu Bingjun, Dean of the Law School of Shandong University of Political Science and Law, said that the trial and pre-trial procedures showcased the openness and fairness of the justice system.

"The whole trial followed strict legal procedures. The prosecution and defense were both given the full opportunities necessary to express their opinions," said Liu, who also attended the trial.

An article on bbc.co.uk said the broadcasts were "an unprecedented display of transparency for a trial in China, and therefore drew massive attention from the Chinese public."

A commentary on the website of the Ta Kung Pao newspaper in Hong Kong said that there is a need to meet demand for information to lead public opinion rather than allow true and fake news to mingle together on micro-blogging sites.

Pledge against corruption

"The court is using new media for timely and accurate disclosure of events from the trial through transcripts and pictures. This greatly satisfies concerns the general public have in regards to Bo's case and also indicates the new central leadership's confidence in its governance, the rule of law and its anti-graft crackdowns," said an article written by Yang Fei on Guangming Daily's website.

After assuming office in November 2012, the new CPC leadership has paid great attention to fighting corruption, calling on the whole Party to stay on full alert, as corruption is a threat to its survival.

Earlier in August, former Minister of Railways Liu Zhijun was given a suspended death penalty for bribery and abuse of power. Liu's sentence followed the recent sacking and investigation of several senior officials for suspected violations of law and disciplines.

At a plenary meeting of the CPC's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection in January, Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, pledged to unflinchingly fight against corruption and keep power reined within a "cage of regulations."

Disciplinary, preventive and guarantee mechanisms should be set up to ensure that people do not dare to, and are also not able to commit acts of corruption, Xi said.

On August 27, at a meeting presided over by Xi, the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee approved a plan for 2013-17 that deals with improving the system for disciplining officials involved in corruption and preventing others from being involved.

For the CPC, building a system to fight corruption is a "major political task" and combating it is a responsibility that society shares as a whole, said a statement issued after the meeting.

The exercise of power by officials must be checked and supervised so as to create a system where officials dare not be corrupt and corruption will be stopped in its tracks, the statement added.

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