[JURIST] China’s former national security chief Zhou Yongkang [BBC profile] was charged [press release, in Chinese] with bribery, abuse of power and disclosing state secrets on Friday, making him the highest-ranked official [NYT report] to be charged with political corruption in decades. Zhou was the head [BBC report] of the Ministry of Public Security [official website] until his retirement in 2012 and oversaw law enforcement, national security and intelligence services. After Zhou’s retirement, the government began investigating him and former officials who worked under him in the China National Petroleum Corporation [official website] and in government. He was arrested [JURIST report] and expelled from the ruling Communist Party last December. Zhou will have an open trial in Tianjin, although no date has been set. Prosecutors have not made public the details of Zhou’s charges.

Since the appointment of President Xi Jinping in 2013, China has set out on a campaign against corruption. In February Chinese officials said they will prosecute [JURIST report] Su Rong, former vice-chairman of the country’s top parliamentary advisory body, for graft, including taking bribes and selling ranks and titles. Last month the Chinese government also announced [JURIST report] the conviction and investigation of 14 generals for corrupt financial practices. In recent months China has also set out to reform its court system. Last October China announced a blueprint for judicial reform [JURIST report] aimed at giving judges more independence and limiting the influence of local officials over courts. Guidelines for the reform were released [JURIST report] the following week. In February China’s Supreme People’s Court [official website, in Chinese] announced a five-year comprehensive legal reform plan [JURIST report] to make the judiciary more impartial, fair, independent and accountable as a way to emphasize the rule of law and “safeguard national unity.”