An investigation into ex-senior official Bo Xilai over discipline violations has demonstrated the Communist Party of China's resolution and transparency in self-discipline, officials, scholars and netizens have said.

The CPC Central Committee announced last week that it would suspend Bo's membership in the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau and the CPC Central Committee, as he is suspected of being involved in serious discipline violations.

Bo was previously removed from his post as Party chief of the city of Chongqing.

Chinese police are also investigating Bo's wife Bo-Gu Kailai and an orderly at their home, both of whom are suspects in the murder of British citizen Neil Heywood in Chongqing in November 2011.

The two have been handed over to relevant judicial departments.

Although the incidents have startled many, the central authorities' decision to investigate Bo has garnered support

Zhang Yu, an official with the People's Procuratorate of Tianjin Municipality, said the decision to investigate Bo sends an unambiguous signal that the Party is determined to "go tough" in self-discipline.

Liu Lin, deputy head of the Henan Provincial Corruption Prevention Bureau, said the announcement of Bo's investigation demonstrates the Party's resolution and confidence in fighting corruption.

"Self-discipline and anti-corruption efforts cannot work until they are conducted in an open and transparent manner," said Liu.

Ji Yaguang, a professor with Tianjin-based Nankai University, said the Party's central leadership has considered anti-corruption efforts to be a "major political mission" and made repeated efforts to build a clean Party and a clean government.

However, an article carried by the Tianjin Evening News warned that the Party still faces a tough task in fighting corruption and must implement further reforms in order to avoid power abuse.

The news of Bo's investigation has served to quiet some rumors simmering in the online community after Chongqing's former police chief Wang Lijun entered, without authorization, the U.S. general consulate in Chengdu, a neighboring city of Chongqing, on Feb. 6.

The incident prompted an investigation ordered by the central authorities, which resulted in the discovery of Neil Heywood's alleged homicide .

Bo's wife had been in good terms with Heywood, although they eventually came into conflict over economic interests, a police investigation showed.

(Xinhua News Agency April 18, 2012)