Bo Xilai's eloquence and his attorneys' tireless defense failed to break the public prosecutor's chain of evidence and convince the judicial committee of his innocence. The Intermediate People's Court of Jinan certified most of the procuratorial evidence, all but the 1.34 million yuan ($218,821) allegedly spent on air tickets for Bo's family.

The trial of Bo showcased the political will of the central authorities to tackle corruption with an iron fist. Bo is with the highest ranking of 10 officials above vice-ministerial level, who have been investigated for abuse of power since last year. Bo's trial and the life imprisonment he has got for embezzlement of public money and abuse of power speaks volumes for the central authorities' resolve to root out corruption.

China's top leaders have expressed on different occasions that the fight against corruption has much to do with the fate of the country's ruling Communist Party of China and that of the Chinese nation.