In a sign of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s consolidation of power, the Communist Party announced it is investigating feared ex-security chief Zhou Yongkang.  It’s the highest-level investigation since Beijing went after the widow of Mao Zedong and three others for treason in the “Gang of Four” trial in the 1980s.

Zhou Yongkang headed China's Ministry of Public Security and was one of nine leaders of the Chinese Communist Party’s Politburo Standing Committee, until his retirement in 2012.  Members of his family are all over government and state-run businesses, and he’s believed to be North Korea’s friend in Beijing. 

In the past, incumbent and retired members have been off-limits from investigations.  But Zhou was also an ally of Bo Xilai, the fallen Politburo member found guilty of corruption last year and sentenced to life in prison.  Rumors about Zhou started swirling around the same time, and he has not been seen in public for months.

Since taking office two years ago, Xi Jinping has made a point of pursuing alleged corruption in high levels of Chinese government.  But by going after Zhou Yongkang, Xi is sending a message that he is fully in charge and there is no one too big for him to take on.