President Xi Jinping has compared corrupt senior officials to "tigers" and lower-ranking officials to "flies". On winter solstice, Dec 22, which is marked by the shortest day and longest night of the year, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China issued in a brief statement saying Ling Jihua, 58, a senior Party official, is under investigation for "suspected serious disciplinary violations".

The downfall of Ling is dramatic. His younger brother Ling Zhengce was sacked as the provincial governor of Shanxi a few months ago after being put under investigation for corruption. After that, Ling Jihua's fall was only a matter of time, because it is believed that he was the umbrella protecting his brother.

Ling Jihua comes from a powerful family of five siblings in North China's Shanxi. The names of the siblings in Chinese mean road map (Luxian), principle (Fangzhen), policy (Zhengce), plan (Jihua) and accomplishment (Wancheng). Ling Jihua's downfall marks the decline of the entire family.

Born in Shanxi, Ling Jihua is the vice-chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, China's top political advisor, and head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee. Between 2007 and 2012, he served as head of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee.

Since the start of the anti-corruption campaign two years ago, more than 50 senior officials of vice-minister level or above have been sacked or put on trial for corruption, abusing power or other disciplinary violations. Su Rong, former vice-chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, Zhou Yongkang, former member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, and Xu Caihou, former vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, are the three biggest tigers trapped by the anti-corruption drive. Ling Jihua is the latest tiger on the list.