timelets | China's anti-corruption campaign

Singaporeans are watching what's going on in China with mixed feelings. On the one hand, Chinese corrupt officials provided great market opportunities to Singapore luxury goods, services, and real estate. The new anti-corruption measures are likely to reduce revenues from these markets. On the other hand, China is finally following Singapore experience in addressling the corruption problem from the top. It's too early to say whether Xi is just fighting for power or truly trying to transform the country. Nevertheless, corruption has become public enemy #1 throughout Asia. This is great news!

Fuelled by a belief that the survival of the party is at stake, Mr Xi's anti-corruption drive - carried out by thousands of investigators at the Central Commission of Discipline Inspection (CCDI) - has gone farther and longer and brought down more officials than expected.

More than 100,000 errant officials have been caught in less than three years, with suspects nabbed everywhere: at train stations, in luxury hotels, at home.

But the biggest jolt to the system was the arrest of former Politburo standing committee member Zhou Yongkang, who up till three years ago was one of China's most powerful men. In July last year, the party announced they were investigating him. On June 11, following a closed-door trial, he was sentenced to life in prison for graft.
Zhou's downfall broke unspoken rules in China, a country which has never indicted such a senior leader for any crime before.