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, March 02, 2018

Access to Justice (司法公正)

China's top paper says Xi Jinping won't necessarily serve for life
Cable News Network, March 1, 2018
https://edition.cnn.com/2018/03/01/asia/china-peoples-daily-xi-jinping-term-limits-intl/index.html

Related:
保证党和国家长治久安的重大制度安排 (People’s Daily: Important institutional arrangements [constitutional amendments] are meant to ensure long-term stability of party and state)
People’s Daily, March 1, 2018
http://paper.people.com.cn/rmrb/html/2018-03/01/nw.D110000renmrb_20180301_2-03.htm

After U.S.-based reporters exposed abuses, China seized their relatives
中国拘留多名自由亚洲电台维族记者亲属
The New York Times, March 1, 2018
EN: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/01/world/asia/china-xinjiang-rfa.html
CH: https://cn.nytimes.com/china/20180302/china-xinjiang-rfa/

Related:
Rights groups condemn China’s detention of RFA reporters’ relatives
Radio Free Asia, March 1, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/uyghur/reporters-relatives-03012018164751.html

全国政协委员吕红兵提案:建议只有律师能担任刑事案件辩护人 (CPPCC’s Lyu Hongbin: Prohibit disbarred lawyers from representing clients in criminal defense posing as relatives and friends)
The Paper, March 1, 2018
http://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_2014209

Cybersecurity law causing “mass concerns” among foreign firms in China
South China Morning Post, March 1, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/economy/article/2135338/cybersecurity-law-causing-mass-concerns-among-foreign-firms-china

China places outspoken dissidents under house arrest ahead of parliament
Radio Free Asia, March 1, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/dissidents-03012018125427.html

李昱函受虐绝食 律师拟申请取保候审 (Rights lawyer Li Yuhan stages hunger strike against torture under detention. Lawyer to apply for bail)
Radio Free Asia, February 28, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/gf3-02282018101545.html

Access to Information (信息公开)

重拳整治乱象 还网络一片清朗 (Chinese authorities crack down on “illegal” and “vulgar” online video games)
People’s Daily, March 2, 2018
http://politics.people.com.cn/n1/2018/0302/c1001-29842942.html

批澳大利亚出版反华书籍,华春莹送出一句古诗 (MFA spokesperson criticizes book “Silent Invasion: China's Influence in Australia” by quoting ancient poem: “Despite the incessant cry of apes from the banks, the swift boat has already sailed through thousands of hills”)
Global Times, March 1, 2018
http://world.huanqiu.com/exclusive/2018-03/11634025.html

Related:
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying's Regular Press Conference on March 1, 2018
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, March 1, 2018
http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/xwfw_665399/s2510_665401/t1538767.shtml

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

China Media Bulletin: Resisting Beijing’s influence, New Year Gala, #MeToo in China (Issue No. 126)
中国媒体快报:抵抗北京的影响力、春晚、#MeToo在中国 (Issue 126, Simplified Chinese)
Freedom House, March 1, 2018
EN: https://freedomhouse.org/china-media/china-media-bulletin-resisting-beijings-influence-new-year-gala-metoo-in-china-issue-no-126
CH: https://freedomhouse.org/china-media/metooissue-126-simplified-chinese

陕西富平县两个村村民:我们坚决反对建垃圾焚烧发电厂 (Villagers in Shaanxi petition against construction of waste incineration power plants)
Weiquanwang, March 1, 2018
http://wqw2010.blogspot.hk/2018/03/blog-post_1.html

Government Accountability (政府问责)

China’s new vice-premiers to lead battles against poverty, pollution and economic risks
South China Morning Post, March 2, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2135094/chinas-new-vice-premiers-lead-battles-against-poverty

Related:
Exclusive: Xi confidant set to become China's new spy master - sources
Reuters, February 28, 2018
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-politics-security-exclusive/exclusive-xi-confidant-set-to-become-chinas-new-spy-master-sources-idUSKCN1GC17K

China’s parliament is a growing billionaires’ club
人大和政协,中国的“亿万富翁俱乐部”
The New York Times, March 1, 2018
EN: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/01/business/china-parliament-billionaires.html
CH: https://cn.nytimes.com/business/20180302/china-parliament-billionaires/

专访陈日君: 中梵协议是"投降" 出卖了地下教会 (Joseph Zen calls Sino-Vatican deal “surrender”, claiming it betrays underground Churches)
Deutsche Welle, March 1, 2018
http://bit.ly/2GV2f1l

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

在数字极权下的上海生活是怎样一种体验? (What’s it like to live in digitally totalitarian Shanghai?)
China Digital Times, March 1, 2018
http://bit.ly/2GXhwi6

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

China warns Taiwan playing with fire over U.S. bill
Reuters, March 2, 2018
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-usa-taiwan/china-warns-taiwan-playing-with-fire-over-u-s-bill-idUSKCN1GE039

World braces for blowback from Xi lifetime power play in China
Agence France-Presse, February 28, 2018
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/afp/article-5443793/World-braces-blowback-Xi-lifetime-power-play-China.html

Hong Kong (香港)

中央機構改革 台辦港澳辦合併 (Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office to merge with Taiwan Affairs Office)
Mingpao, March 2, 2018
https://news.mingpao.com/pns/dailynews/web_tc/article/20180302/s00013/1519929059508

Budget 2018: Tax deductions for Hongkongers renting their homes not feasible this year, says finance chief
Hong Kong Free Press, March 2, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/02/budget-2018-tax-deductions-hongkongers-renting-homes-not-feasible-year-says-finance-chief/

Related:
Budget 2018: Environmental group says gov’t green bonds could lead to more “white elephant” projects
Hong Kong Free Press, March 2, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/02/budget-2018-environmental-group-says-govt-green-bonds-lead-white-elephant-projects/

Court rejects appeal bid from ex-chief exec. aide Lew Mon-hung over obstruction of justice conviction
Hong Kong Free Press, March 2, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/02/court-rejects-appeal-bid-ex-chief-exec-aide-lew-mon-hung-obstruction-justice-conviction/

Pro-democracy bloc suffers another blow as Hong Kong Legco approves more rule book changes for Finance Committee
South China Morning Post, March 1, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2135324/pro-democracy-bloc-suffers-another-blow-hong-kong-legco

“I really want to kill you!”: Hong Kong woman arrested after video shows employer hitting Indonesian domestic helper
South China Morning Post, March 1, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/2135278/i-really-want-kill-you-video-showing-employer-hitting

Video: Treatment of student sparks questions over Hong Kong police training on autism
Hong Kong Free Press, March 1, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/01/video-treatment-student-sparks-questions-hong-kong-police-training-autism/

林郑月娥新春酒会自认“忠诚如狗” (Carrie Lam claims “loyal as a dog” during Lunar New Year party)
Radio France Internationale, March 1, 2018
http://bit.ly/2CVx2cg

Commentary (评论)

彭丽君:毛美学──创新还是整合,民族自信还是感官控制? (Maoist aesthetic: Innovation or integration; national confidence or control of senses?)
The Initium, March 2, 2108
https://theinitium.com/article/20180302-opinion-panglaikwan-aesthetics-of-the-maoist/

Xi Jinping and the perils of one-person rule in China
The New Yorker, March 1, 2018
https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/xi-jinping-and-the-perils-of-one-person-rule-in-china

How the West got China wrong
The Economist, March 1, 2018
https://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21737517-it-bet-china-would-head-towards-democracy-and-market-economy-gamble-has-failed-how

Maybe the law does actually matter to Xi Jinping
China File, March 1, 2018
http://www.chinafile.com/reporting-opinion/viewpoint/maybe-law-does-actually-matter-xi-jinping

Can Chinese journalists criticize the party-state?
China File, March 1, 2018
http://www.chinafile.com/library/sinica-podcast/can-chinese-journalists-criticize-party-state

Xi Jinping’s authoritarian rise in China has been powered by sexism
The Washington Post, March 1, 2018
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/global-opinions/wp/2018/03/01/xi-jinpings-authoritarian-rise-in-china-has-been-powered-by-sexism/

When the cat’s away …
习近平们的春天来了
The New York Times, February 27, 2018
EN: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/27/opinion/trump-strongmen-democracy.html
CH: https://cn.nytimes.com/opinion/20180302/trump-strongmen-democracy/