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, February 23, 2018

Access to Justice (司法公正)

EU efforts to free detained bookseller Gui Minhai to be doubled – not abandoned – after “interview,” MPs say
Hong Kong Free Press, February 23, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/02/23/eu-efforts-free-detained-bookseller-gui-minhai-doubled-not-abandoned-interview-mps-say/

张扣扣案:陕西汉中中院对当年案件再合议 (Shaanxi court reviews 22 years old case after veteran Zhang Koukou slays 3 in revenge)
Radio Free Asia, February 22, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/ql2-02222018103229.html

中国人权观察成员徐秦证实遭刑事拘留 (Xu Qin, member of China Human Rights Watch, confirmed of under criminally detention)
Weiquanwang, February 22, 2018
http://wqw2010.blogspot.hk/2018/02/blog-post_27.html

司法行政机关信访工作办法修订:检举材料转给被检举人将追责 (New Letters and Visits regulation bans leaking whistleblower's identity to the accused)
The Paper, February 22, 2018
http://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_2004888

北京离监探亲罪犯戴电子手环,每天向民警发在家过年照片视频 (Beijing inmates allowed to visit family at home during Lunar New Year, send photos and videos to police everyday)
Legal Daily, February 22, 2018
http://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_2004352

国际特赦组织报告:中国人权状况继续恶化 (Amnesty International: Human rights conditions in China continue to deteriorate)
Radio Free Asia, February 22, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/hc-02222018103845.html

Access to Information (信息公开)

China's funeral strippers facing crackdown on “vulgar performances”
The Sydney Morning Herald, February 23, 2018
http://www.smh.com.au/world/china-s-funeral-strippers-facing-crackdown-on-vulgar-performances-20180223-p4z1hs

China rules out arson in fire at Tibetan Buddhism’s holiest temple, as authorities accused of cover-up
Agence France-Presse, February 22, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/02/22/china-rules-arson-fire-tibetan-buddhisms-holiest-temple-authorities-accused-cover/

Chinese censorship moves into the American workplace
The Diplomat, February 21, 2018
https://thediplomat.com/2018/02/chinese-censorship-moves-into-the-american-workplace/

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Chinese paper says U.S. should learn from China, restrict guns, protect rights
Reuters, February 23, 2018
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-usa-guns/chinese-paper-says-u-s-should-learn-from-china-restrict-guns-protect-rights-idUSKCN1G703W

Lessons from China’s rust belt
The Economist, February 22, 2018
https://www.economist.com/news/china/21737299-debate-about-how-revive-it-has-implications-whole-country-lessons-chinas-rust-belt

China “opposes” racism but dismisses criticism of CCTV blackface skit
South China Morning Post, February 22, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/2134350/china-opposes-racism-dismisses-criticism-cctv-blackface

Related:
China portrays racism as a Western problem
The Economist, February 22, 2018
https://www.economist.com/news/china/21737283-it-has-problem-it-too-china-portrays-racism-western-problem

10 Million Catholics in China face storm they can’t control
风暴将至,中国天主教徒何去何从?
The New York Times, February 14, 2018
EN: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/14/world/asia/china-catholics-vatican.html
CH: https://cn.nytimes.com/china/20180222/china-catholics-vatican/

Related:
邢福增:下一代灵魂之争──中国未成年人还可否信教? (Fight for souls of the next generation - can underaged Chinese be religious? )
The Initium, February 23, 2018
https://theinitium.com/article/20180223-opinion-opinion-yingfuktsang-freedom-of-religion/

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

Game helps players spot “fake news”
British Broadcasting Corporation, February 22, 2018
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-43154667

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

As China puts pressure on Taiwan, signs of a U.S. pushback
美台关系升温,特朗普如何重打“台湾牌”?
The New York Times, February 22, 2018
EN: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/22/world/asia/taiwan-us-china.html
CH: https://cn.nytimes.com/china/20180223/taiwan-us-china/

Hong Kong (香港)

“Hong Kong’s hero, Edward Leung” graffiti appears on second day of pro-independence activist’s trial
Hong Kong Free Press, February 23, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/02/23/hong-kongs-hero-edward-leung-graffiti-appears-second-day-pro-independence-activists-trial/

Related:
Mystery “mainland tourist” disrupts Mong Kok riot trial by taking photos, prompting judge to issue warning and assure jury
South China Morning Post, February 23, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/2134439/mystery-mainland-tourist-disrupts-mong-kok-riot-trial

中聯辦領導班子倡「5個看齊」:助香港同胞樹立正確國家觀 (Liaison Office calls Hongkongers to follow Xi Jinping, have “correct views of the country”)
HK01, February 23, 2018
http://bit.ly/2opoUeC

李飛指自決就是港獨 「本質一樣」 (Li Fei, Chairman of the Basic Law Committee, claims self-determination and independence are “same in nature”)
Mingpaio, February 23, 2018
https://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20180223/s00001/1519365075743

稱市民可自選是否搭高鐵 鄭若驊指沒把內地法強加於人 (Justice chief Teresa Cheng says Hongkongers are not forced to follow mainland laws, as they are free to choose whether to ride with high-speed train)
Mingpao, February 23, 2018
https://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20180223/s00001/1519367711630

Pro-Beijing by-election candidate accuses rival of “smears” after ties to Henderson charity questioned
Hong Kong Free Press, February 23, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/02/23/pro-beijing-election-candidate-accuses-rival-smears-ties-henderson-charity-questioned/

Freedom of expression “under attack” in Hong Kong as democracy activists targeted: Report
国际特赦:香港集会及言论自由拉响警钟
Radio Free Asia, February 22, 2018
EN: https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/hongkong-amnesty-02222018124201.html
CH: https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/cp-02222018103544.html

“Hong Kong royal family”: Confusion as official attends press event sporting Qing Dynasty garb
Hong Kong Free Press, February 22, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/02/22/hong-kong-royal-family-confusion-official-attends-press-event-sporting-qing-dynasty-garb/

Commentary (评论)

Why has China’s anti-corruption rating barely budged despite thousands of arrests?
South China Morning Post, February 23, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2134265/why-has-chinas-anti-corruption-rating-barely-budged-despite

China's rise and the future of liberal international order: Asking the right questions
The Diplomat, February 23, 2018
https://thediplomat.com/2018/02/chinas-rise-and-the-future-of-liberal-international-order-asking-the-right-questions/

世道人生:春晚的臭腳 (Worship the stinky feet of CCTV's Spring Festival Gala)
Apple Daily, February 22, 2018
https://hk.news.appledaily.com/local/daily/article/20180222/20311820

China dropped its one-child policy. So why aren’t Chinese women having more babies?
开放二胎后,中国的生育率为什么没有上升
The New York Times, February 20, 2018
EN: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/20/opinion/china-women-birthrate-rights.html
CH: https://cn.nytimes.com/opinion/20180223/china-women-birthrate-rights/