Uploaded September 2013 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
Political watchers said the Chinese court's decision to hand Bo Xilai a sentence of lifetime imprisonment for corruption and abuse of power on Sunday (September 22), signals an end to any political life, despite his defiant expression during the trial.
"Sentencing him to life under Chinese law is depriving him of all political rights for the rest of his life. But there's one symbolic message here, which is that his political life has ended. If he were sentenced to a certain number of years, well, this is sentencing him for a limited time, thus depriving his political rights for an uncertain amount of time. But for him, sentencing him to 20 years or life makes no difference," said historian and independent political commentator, Zhang Lifan.
Despite Bo's seemingly grim life sentence, pictures released by state media show Bo smiling in court while his sentence is read to him.
"When they announced the verdict and when he was in handcuffs, his expression was very complex. Although he was smiling during the trial. I think that he is giving his supporters some sort of sign that he doesn't accept it and he doesn't believe he will really sit for so many years in prison in his old age," said Zhang.
The court in Jinan in eastern China where Bo was tried also ordered that all his personal assets be seized, according to a transcript carried on the court's official microblog.
"Bo Xilai was a servant of the state, he abused his power, causing huge damage to the country and its people ... The circumstances were especially serious," the court said in its judgement.
Bo, 64, has 10 days to appeal from Monday (September 23), the court added.
Political watchers said the Chinese court's decision to hand Bo Xilai a sentence of lifetime imprisonment for corruption and abuse of power on Sunday (September 22), signals an end to any political life, despite his defiant expression during the trial.
"Sentencing him to life under Chinese law is depriving him of all political rights for the rest of his life. But there's one symbolic message here, which is that his political life has ended. If he were sentenced to a certain number of years, well, this is sentencing him for a limited time, thus depriving his political rights for an uncertain amount of time. But for him, sentencing him to 20 years or life makes no difference," said historian and independent political commentator, Zhang Lifan.
Despite Bo's seemingly grim life sentence, pictures released by state media show Bo smiling in court while his sentence is read to him.
"When they announced the verdict and when he was in handcuffs, his expression was very complex. Although he was smiling during the trial. I think that he is giving his supporters some sort of sign that he doesn't accept it and he doesn't believe he will really sit for so many years in prison in his old age," said Zhang.
The court in Jinan in eastern China where Bo was tried also ordered that all his personal assets be seized, according to a transcript carried on the court's official microblog.
"Bo Xilai was a servant of the state, he abused his power, causing huge damage to the country and its people ... The circumstances were especially serious," the court said in its judgement.
Bo, 64, has 10 days to appeal from Monday (September 23), the court added.
