Sieren's China

Many previous Chinese presidents have promised to do something about the rampant corruption that has plagued the country for decades. But China's current leader, Xi Jinping, is the first person who can rightly claim not to have easily given up the fight.

After thousands of top officials and functionaries were forced to give up their posts in the first 18 months of his term in office, Xi's corruption crusade has now claimed Xu Caihou, one of the military's highest ranking officials. Earlier this week, he was expelled from the Communist Party and charged with corruption. Until 2013, Xu was deputy chairman of the Central Military Commission. As the Commission's second-in-command, he was only behind then-president Hu Jintao. Xu was also a member of the ruling party's Politburo until 2012, China's center of power.

Most powerful no longer off limits

Bringing charges against a former member of the Politburo would have been unthinkable just a few years ago. But President Xi has shown that he will show no mercy, even with former members of China's power center: A few months ago, investigations were launched against Zhou Yongkang, a former head of state security.

Assets worth at least 90 billion yuan, the equivalent of about $14.5 billion (10.6 billion euros) have been seized from his family and close confidants. Among them are alleged to be bank accounts containing more than 37 billion yuan and foreign bonds worth some 51 billion yuan, apartments and mansions valued at 1.7 billion yuan, antiques and paintings worth 1 billion yuan and 60 motor vehicles.

However, even though the fact that the Politburo is no longer off limits in the fight against corruption has been well received among Chinese citizens, it remains an issue for President Xi. He can already be described as one of the more assertive presidents having cleared up corruption in other areas. The fact that Xi would focus the power on himself became clear shortly after he took office. One of his first acts was to make extensive changes in the military, swapping out dozens of generals with his own people, radically cutting numerous privileges and getting rid of some unwelcome party leaders in the provinces.

Is it really just about corruption?

Thus, after a year and a half, Xi can be said to be an unusually strong president. However, his power also has its drawbacks, coming at the expense of political diversity. Many of his critics have asked in recent months just how far Xi has combined the good with the useful for himself by eliminating his political opponents.

Zhou, for example, was seen by many as a clear opponent of the president. But even opinions on that fact are far apart in China. Friend or foe: the distinction is hard to make. In any case, the discussion dilutes Xi's political standing. Even with this week's exclusion of General Xu and three other party members, it's been said that Xi only banished them because they were close to Zhou and the president wanted to further weaken his influence. Xi's crackdown - or better yet, his incorruptibility - would probably only be noteworthy if it affected friend and foe alike. But this has not proved to be easy for Xi.

For whatever reason Xi is fighting corruption, his message has been understood throughout the country. It has dawned on every top political leader and top manager that this is not some short-lived spook; instead, they now realize that it is only a matter of time before the next heads roll.

Within the Communist party and the business community fears are growing that ever tighter controls will be implemented - and these are fears that ultimately could paralyze the entire country.

Our columnist Frank Sieren is considered one of Germany's leading China experts. He has been living in Beijing for the last 20 years.