The HRIC Daily Brief is a daily selection of news stories and commentary related to human rights in China, drawn from Chinese- and English-language news and online media sources that we monitor daily. In addition to headlines and source links, HRIC also provides English translation of Chinese headlines.

Monday, February 29, 2016

Access to Justice (司法公正)

China pastor who resisted cross removals jailed for corruption
British Broadcasting Corporation, February 26, 2016
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-35673952

Related:
宗教维权受压:牧师包国华判监14年 律师张凯「被认罪」 (Religious rights defenders repressed: Pastor Bao Guohua sentenced for 14 years, lawyer Zhang Kai forced to “confess”)
Radio France Internationale, February 27, 2016
http://cn.rfi.fr/中国/20160227-宗教维权受压:牧师包国华判监14年-律师张凯「被认罪」

2015 another difficult year for criminal defendants, data show
Caixin, February 26, 2016
http://english.caixin.com/2016-02-26/100913241.html

Access to Information (信息公开)

China state broadcaster takes over Oscars live stream
China Film Insider, February 29, 2016
http://chinafilminsider.com/china-state-broadcaster-takes-over-oscars-live-stream/

Cyberspace Administration of China orders websites to shut Ren Zhiqiang's accounts
Fei Chang Dao, February 28, 2016
http://blog.feichangdao.com/2016/02/cyberspace-administration-of-china.html

China closes 580 social media accounts for spreading “rumor”
The Hindu, February 27, 2016
http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/china-closes-580-social-media-accounts-for-spreading-rumour/article8289748.ece

Peering through the haze of China’s economic data
The New York Times, February 27, 2016
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/27/world/asia/china-economy-outlook.html

Five things China’s censors cut from a famous American scholar’s book
The Washington Post, February 26, 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/02/26/five-things-chinas-censors-cut-from-fukuyamas-book-on-governance/

国际记者联盟谴责中国判藏人作家珠洛有罪 (International Federation of Journalists denounces China for convicting Tibetan writer Druklo)
Voice of America, February 29, 2016
http://www.voachinese.com/content/ifj-20160226/3209220.html

广电总局严管网络剧 中国网友批“锁国” (Chinese netizens criticizes the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television’s tight control on Internet dramas as “locking up the country”)
Radio France Internationale, February 29, 2016
http://cn.rfi.fr/中国/20160229-广电总局严管网络剧-中国网友批“锁国”

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

China's pollution problem gets hairy with “nose-tache” to filter smog
The Guardian, February 29, 2016
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/29/chinas-pollution-problem-gets-hairy-as-activists-reveal-nose-tache-to-filter-smog

Strikes and workers’ protests multiply in China, testing party authority
Washington Post, February 24, 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/strikes-and-workers-protests-multiply-in-china-testing-party-authority/2016/02/24/caba321c-b3c8-11e5-8abc-d09392edc612_story.html

China tightens censorship of online TV programs days after suspending shows featuring gay love, excessive sex and violence
South China Morning Post, February 28, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/1918020/china-tightens-censorship-online-tv-programmes-days-after

China’s feminist school club: the Beijing students talking equality on their lunch break
The Guardian, February
http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/womens-blog/2016/feb/27/china-feminist-school-club-beijing-students-equality-lunch-break

China's army of petitioners invades Beijing ahead of annual congress
Radio Free Asia, February 25, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/chinas-army-of-petitioners-invades-beijing-ahead-of-annual-congress-02262016130812.html

Government Accountability (政府问责)

CPC to drill members in self-discipline, socialist values
Xinhua, February 28, 2016
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-02/28/c_135138601.htm

Former energy official says police tortured him into confessing
Caixin, February 25, 2016
http://english.caixin.com/2016-02-25/100912688.html

“Rising star” PLA rear admiral Wang Yu under investigation for corruption
South China Morning Post, February 27, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1918024/rising-star-pla-rear-admiral-wang-yu-under

Son of corrupt Communist Party official admits accepting nearly 1 million yuan in bribes...but blames it on his father
South China Morning Post, February 26, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/1917239/son-corrupt-communist-party-official-admits-accepting-nearly-1m

China to prosecute two senior officials from Xinjiang over graft
Reuters, February 29, 2016
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-corruption-xinjiang-idUSKCN0W20FK

U.S. congressman: China's worsening human rights record harms its world standing
Voice of America, February 26, 2016
http://www.voanews.com/content/us-congressman-says-china-worsening-human-rights-record-harms-its-world-standing/3210605.html

Hong Kong (香港)

Missing booksellers “operated illegal business”, but could return to HK soon—state media
Hong Kong Free Press, February 29, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/02/29/58042/

Hong Kong protests student leaders go on trial
British Broadcasting Corporation, February 29, 2016
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-35684340

Related:
This 19-year-old started a massive protest movement in Hong Kong—and now the government is putting him on trial
Business Insider, February 29, 2016
http://www.businessinsider.com/joshua-wong-interview-trial-protest-movement-hong-kong-2016-2

By-election 2016: The rise and rise of Hong Kong Indigenous
Hong Kong Free Press, February 29, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/02/29/by-election-2016-the-rise-and-rise-of-hong-kong-indigenous/

Related:
【短片:新東補選】黃成智承認落敗:中間路線艱難 梁天琦:本土理念不是小眾 ([Video: New Territories East by-election] Nelson Wong admits failure: Hard to pursue the mid-way; Edward Leung: Localist concept is not minority)
Ming Pao, February 29, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20160229/s00001/1456684332447

Opinion and Editorial (观点和社论)

政治光譜的新形勢 (The new situation of the political spectrum)
Ming Pao, February 29, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20160229/s00022/1456718268575