`` It 's almost certain '' Xi Jinping would be put on trial , a longtime political observer says . Zhou had been on the 23,000 -member Politburo . He had been rumored to be under house arrest before late 2012 's announcement . State media have cited the trial and conviction last year of former high-flying politician Bo Xilai -- a protégé of Zhou -- as a prime example of Xi 's determination to clean up the party , though Bo supporters called the case against him politically motivated . If indicted , he would be the highest-ranking the People 's Republic official ever to face corruption charges .
`` It 's almost certain '' Xi Jinping would be put on trial , a longtime political observer says . Zhou had been on the 23,000 -member Politburo . He had been rumored to be under house arrest before late 2012 's announcement . If indicted , he would be the highest-ranking the People 's Republic official ever to face corruption charges .