Zhou Yongkang's Early Years

After much speculation, the official Xinhua News Agency reported on July 29 that the Communist Party's Central Committee has decided to investigate Zhou Yongkang, the former member of the Politburo Standing Committee and public security chief, for "serious discipline violations."

Zhou is the most senior official to be place under investigation for graft.

Before the fall of Zhou, a massive graft network emerged surrounding him. So far, those who have been investigated include at least two regular and two alternate members of the 18th Central Committee; three officials at the deputy provincial level and higher; several hundred public servants and leading cadres in state-owned and private enterprises; and many of Zhou's close relatives.