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.

Friday, April 08, 2016

Access to Justice (司法公正)

China promotes understanding of law among civil servants
Xinhua, April 7, 2016
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-04/07/c_135259120.htm

Access to Information (信息公开)

Jack Ma is paying journalists “cash gifts” to stay at the newspaper he just took over
Quartz, April 8, 2016
http://qz.com/657604/jack-ma-is-paying-journalists-cash-gifts-to-stay-at-the-newspaper-he-just-took-over/

The Economist’s website is now censored in China—and all it took was one satirical cover
Quartz, April 7, 2016
http://qz.com/655995/the-economists-website-is-now-censored-in-china-and-all-it-took-was-one-satirical-cover/

Initium’s ambition: A digital magazine for all Chinese
Foreign Policy, April 6, 2016
http://foreignpolicy.com/2016/04/06/a-magazine-for-every-chinese-hong-kong-media-censorship-china-initium/

China steps up Panama Papers censorship after leaders' relatives named
The Guardian, April 7, 2016
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/07/china-ramps-up-panama-papers-censorship-after-leaders-relatives-named

Related:
学者:巴拿马文件或冲击中国民众对中共信心 (Academic: Panama Papers may shock Chinese people's confidence in CPC)
Voice of America, April 7, 2016
http://www.voachinese.com/content/china-involvements-panama-papers-faith-crisis-20160407/3274274.html

Underground, overground: Despite harassment by police, China’s house-church movement is growing
The Economist, April 9, 2016
http://www.economist.com/news/china/21696534-despite-harassment-police-chinas-house-church-movement-growing-underground-overground

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Pastor of China’s largest Protestant church released: Report
The Washington Post, April 7, 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/pastor-of-chinas-largest-protestant-church-released-report/2016/04/08/892793a2-fd57-11e5-813a-90ab563f0dde_story.html

廣州街頭舉橫額聲援佔中 重囚4年半 律師斥判決損一國兩制 (Guandzhou activists who publicly brandished banner supporting Hong Kong's Umbrella Movement sentenced, the longest for 4.5 years, lawyer condemns the judgement as a breach of One Country Two Systems)
Ming Pao, April 8, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20160408/s00004/1460098148701

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Xi Jinping's PLA ambitions: Why Guo Boxiong had to go
The Diplomat, April 7, 2016
http://thediplomat.com/2016/04/xi-jinpings-pla-ambitions-why-guo-boxiong-had-to-go/

China warns sports establishment must root out corruption after sector hit by graft scandals
South China Morning Post, April 8, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1934595/china-warns-sports-establishment-must-root-out

China’s baby milk powder scandal: watchdog admits endorsing safety of suspect infant formula to “hold back public panic”
South China Morning Post, April 8, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1934641/chinas-baby-milk-powder-scandal-watchdog-admits

China was largest market for “Panama Papers” law firm: investigation
South China Morning Post, April 7, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1934168/china-was-largest-market-panama-papers-law-firm

China was largest market for Panama Papers law firm: ICIJ
Hong Kong Free Press, April 7, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/04/07/pin-to-desktop-x-china-was-largest-market-for-panama-papers-law-firm-icij/

China is still top executioner amid global rise in death penalty
Radio Free Asia, April 7, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/china-is-still-top-executioner-amid-global-rise-in-death-penalty-04072016111150.html

Related:
死刑,是打擊犯罪的靈丹? (Death sentence—is it a magic remedy for combatting crime?)
InMedia HK, April 7, 2016
http://www.inmediahk.net/node/1041672

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

Mounting criticism on both sides of the Great Firewall
China Digital Times, April 7, 2016
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2016/04/u-s-government-netizens-voice-concern-great-firewall/

U.S. sdds China’s Internet controls to list of trade barriers
美国把中国“防火长城”首次列为贸易壁垒
The New York Times, April 7, 2016
EN: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/08/business/international/china-internet-controls-us.html
CH: http://cn.nytimes.com/business/20160408/c08chinatrade/

Hong Kong (香港)

University forum on protest methods allegedly banned by school as it “may promote violence”
Hong Kong Free Press, April 8, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/04/08/university-forum-on-protest-methods-allegedly-banned-by-school-as-it-may-promote-violence/

Mong Kok unrest: Court agrees to request to withdraw riot charges against 10 defendants
Hong Kong Free Press, April 7, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/04/07/mong-kok-unrest-court-agrees-to-request-to-withdraw-riot-charges-against-10-defendants/

Britain issues warning over threats to Hong Kong freedoms
The Guardian, April 8, 2016
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/08/britain-issues-warning-over-threats-to-hong-kong-freedoms

Why did Hong Kong's Umbrella Movement fail?
The Diplomat, April 6, 2016
http://thediplomat.com/2016/04/why-did-hong-kongs-umbrella-movement-fail/

National Security & Counterterrorism (国家安全和反恐)

China asking for terror suspects list ahead of G20 summit
Reuters, April 7, 2016
http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-g20-china-security-idUKKCN0X40B9