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.

Wednesday, February 07, 2018

Access to Justice (司法公正)

坚持以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想指导人民法院工作 (Guo Shengkun, head of Political and Legal Affairs Commission, claims to use Xi Jinping Thought to guide Chinese courts)
People’s Daily, February 7, 2018
http://politics.people.com.cn/n1/2018/0207/c1001-29809494.html

China says publisher Gui Minhai held under criminal law, amid protests from Sweden
Agence France-Presse, February 6, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/02/06/china-says-publisher-gui-minhai-held-criminal-law-amid-protests-sweden/

Related:
China's arrest of Swedish bookseller could set dangerous precedent: Germany
Agence France-Presse, February 7, 2018
https://sg.news.yahoo.com/chinas-arrest-swedish-bookseller-could-set-dangerous-precedent-202159050.html

广东顺德一村民维权被判刑后在狱中病逝 (Guangdong villager dies in prison after protesting for land rights)
Radio Free Asia, February 6, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/yf2-02062018101022.html

Related:
Threat of re-education camp drives Uyghur who failed anthem recitation to suicide
Radio Free Asia, February 5, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/uyghur/suicide-02052018165305.html

Access to Information (信息公开)

Mercedes-Benz quotes the Dalai Lama. China notices. Apology follows.
奔驰为引用达赖喇嘛名言向中国道歉
The New York Times, February 6, 2018
EN: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/06/business/mercedes-daimler-dalai-lama-china.html
CH: https://cn.nytimes.com/business/20180207/mercedes-daimler-dalai-lama-china/

Related:
人民网评:奔驰,你这样做就是与中国人民为敌! (Benz, this is how you make enemy with the Chinese people!)
People.com.cn, February 6, 2018
http://opinion.people.com.cn/n1/2018/0206/c1003-29809438.html

台北国际书展设“刘晓波纪念展位” (Taipei International Book Exhibition sets up booth to commemorate Liu Xiaobo)
Radio Free Asia, February 6, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/gangtai/hx1-02062018112251.html

多方联手综合施策加大正能量供给推动网游行业转型升级 (Multiple ministries jointly reform online gaming industry to “increase the supply of positive energy” and “promote core values of socialism”)
Xinhua News Agency, February 6, 2018
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/index_article/content/2018-02/06/content_7470076.htm

Marco Rubio warns: Communist China is targeting US students
Washington Examiner, February 5, 2018
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/marco-rubio-warns-communist-china-is-targeting-us-students/article/2648159

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

珠江地产公司民工:我们再次到陕西省政府讨工钱 (Hundreds of construction workers demand wage in arrears at Shaanxi provincial government)
Weiquanwang, February 7, 2018
http://wqw2010.blogspot.hk/2018/02/blog-post_7.html

西咸新区沣滨村村民:我们到陕西省政府要求出示征地批文 (Villagers in Shaanxi demand provincial government to present national approval of land requisition)
Weiquanwang, February 7, 2018
http://wqw2010.blogspot.hk/2018/02/blog-post_34.html

西藏异议人士出狱后在布达拉宫示威再度被捕 (Tibetan dissident who spent more than 20 years behind bars protests in front of Potala Palace and gets arrested again)
Radio Free Asia, February 6, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shaoshuminzu/dz-02062018104936.html

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Beijing meets national air pollutant standard for first time
South China Morning Post, February 7, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2132406/beijing-meets-national-air-pollutant-standard-first-time

新疆扫黑除恶专项首战告捷:抓获嫌疑人330余名 (Xinjiang arrests over 330 and claims first victory amid “remove the black and eradicate the evil” campaign)
Xinjiang Daily, February 7, 2018
http://news.sina.com.cn/c/nd/2018-02-07/doc-ifyrkzqq9226497.shtml

武汉校园将强制设欺凌处置工作小组 (Wuhan to make anti-bullying work group at schools mandatory)
The Beijing News, February 7, 2018
http://epaper.bjnews.com.cn/html/2018-02/07/content_710881.htm?div=-1

Chinese steel mills told to step up safety checks after 19 killed by gas leaks
Reuters, February 6, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2132246/chinese-steel-mills-told-step-safety-checks-after-19-killed-gas

打击洋垃圾走私成海关今年缉私一号工程 (China Customs makes crackdown on smugglling of foreign garbage this year’s priority)
Xinhua News Agency, February 6, 2018
http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2018-02/06/c_129807172.htm

全国法院五年来纠正重大冤错案件39件78人 (Chinese courts redressed 39 miscarriage of justice cases involving 78 people in past 5 years)
Xinhua News Agency, February 5, 2018
http://www.xinhuanet.com/legal/2018-02/05/c_1122372744.htm

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

Media watchdog urges journalists in China to close or move Apple iCloud accounts this month
Hong Kong Free Press, February 7, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/02/07/media-watchdog-urges-journalists-china-close-move-apple-icloud-accounts-month/

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

Photos show Beijing’s militarization of South China Sea in new detail
The Guardian, February 6, 2018
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/06/photos-beijings-militarisation-south-china-sea-philippines

Taiwan brushes off concern about stranded citizens amid China route row
Reuters, February 6, 2018
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-taiwan-flights/taiwan-brushes-off-concern-about-stranded-citizens-amid-china-route-row-idUSKBN1FQ1GP

Hong Kong (香港)

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam defends controversial decision to seek jail terms for Occupy trio
South China Morning Post, February 7, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2132387/hong-kong-leader-carrie-lam-defends-controversial-decision

Related:
Hong Kong court frees three democracy leaders, but warns against future acts of dissent
Reuters, February 6, 2018
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-politics/hong-kong-court-frees-three-democracy-leaders-but-warns-against-future-acts-of-dissent-idUSKBN1FQ10D

Liaison office chief praises Hong Kong and promises to be more transparent and welcoming
South China Morning Post, February 7, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2132318/liaison-office-chief-praises-hong-kong-and-promises-be-more

Related:
港大民研:大部分社會指標告跌 「民主」見2004年以來新低 (HKU survey finds local democracy index hits new low since 2004)
Mingpao, February 6, 2018
https://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20180206/s00001/1517902250351

13被告保釋全獲准 官:不等同與雙學三子案結果相同 (All 13 New Territories development activists granted bail after Court of Final Appeal’s decision)
Mingpao, February 7, 2018
https://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20180207/s00001/1517987570712

Hong Kong-China detention notification deal “useless,” says lawmaker, a year after businessman disappeared
Hong Kong Free Press, February 6, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/02/06/hong-kong-china-detention-notification-deal-useless-says-lawmaker-year-businessman-disappeared/

Commentary (评论)

Beijing is silencing Chinese-Australians
中国正在压制澳大利亚华人的声音
The New York Times, February 6, 2018
EN: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/06/opinion/beijing-chinese-australians-censorship.html
CH: https://cn.nytimes.com/opinion/20180207/beijing-chinese-australians-censorship/

Hong Kong welcomes release of Occupy trio but concerns remain about the Public Order Ordinance
Hong Kong Watch, February 6, 2018
https://www.hongkongwatch.org/all-posts/2018/2/6/hong-kong-welcomes-release-of-occupy-trio-but-concerns-remain-about-the-public-order-ordinance

Related:
這不是香港民主運動的勝利,請不要鬆懈 (This is not a victory for Hong Kong’s democratic movement, please don’t relax)
Inmediahk, February 7, 2018
https://www.inmediahk.net/node/1055052

如天主教向人民币低头 (If the Catholic Church bows to Renminbi)
Radio Free Asia, February 5, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/cantonese/commentaries/kl/com-02052018085749.html

China, elbows out, charges ahead
The New York Times, February 5, 2018
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/05/opinion/china-elbows-out-charges-ahead.html