Wang Lijun, the former vice mayor and police chief of Chongqing, has been charged by the Chengdu City People's Procuratorate for bending the law for selfish ends, defection, abuse of power and bribe-taking, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
The Wang Lijun incident triggered the exposure of the entire Bo Xilai case. Once known as the "hero gang buster" of Chongqing, Wang now sits in the defendant's seat.
This dramatic change undoubtedly embarrasses the authorities. But China has long entered an era in which no embarrassment like this could simply be papered over.
Any citizen, no matter what senior post he or she holds, must face punishment for violating the law. The Wang Lijun incident is a scandal for China on its path to development.
But this will also in turn prompt China to make progress. The incident ultimately ensures that the principle that "reaping what one has sown," instead of being an old Chinese saying, is increasingly true in the country which is witnessing constant improvements in its legal system.
The incident also showed that the US embassy or consulates in China are not places of asylum for Chinese officials who have violated the law. Some may argue that Chen Guangcheng successfully got the opportunity to study in the US via the US embassy. But studying in the US could be realized via many other ways. Chen's story has been weaved into too much political speculation.
For China, it is embarrassing that some choose to flee to the US embassy or consulate when an incident is disclosed. But those who have made the choice have to ultimately bear the consequences. In the long run, none of these people have really reaped any benefits from such a choice.
Chinese dissident Fang Lizhi once fled to the US embassy and left China with US help. However, his progress went downhill both in terms of scientific research and politics, until he passed away in the US in April.
Wang's incident is a vivid lesson for all officials: Cool-headedness and self-discipline are paramount, and the higher the post an official holds, the greater harm his mistakes bring.
Wang's incident took place abruptly, leading to dramatic developments over the following months. But China has demonstrated both its certainty and flexibility in this process. The stir has already passed, and China is continuing on its path forward.
The author is a commentator with the Chinese edition of the Global Times. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn