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, March 07, 2018

Access to Justice (司法公正)

China moves to shutter law firm at center of crackdown on rights lawyers
709大抓捕:北京锋锐律所执业证拟被吊销
Radio Free Asia, March 6, 2018
EN: https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/firm-03062018144558.html
CH: https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/gf1-03062018104608.html

Stop treating all Tibetans like separatists, army soprano tells political meeting
South China Morning Post, March 6, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2136007/stop-treating-all-tibetans-separatists-army-soprano

Access to Information (信息公开)

维吾尔人逃得出故土,逃不开无形的监控 (Uyghurs overseas fall under CPC’s surveillance)
Voice of America, March 7, 2018
https://www.voachinese.com/a/uyghur-20180306/4283745.html

Writer Jung Chang entry in Macau not guaranteed by authorities
Macau News, March 5, 2018
https://macaunews.mo/writer-jung-chang-entry-macau-not-guaranteed-authorities/

Related:
Statement on international authors being denied access to Macau
PEN Hong Kong, March 6, 2018
http://www.penhongkong.org/statement-on-international-authors-being-denied-access-to-macau/

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

200支強光手電筒直射公安雙眼、分組到派出所「盯哨」 中國基督徒保衛十字架之戰 (Chinese Christians defy police using flashlights and counter-surveillance tactics)
The Storm Media, March 6, 2018
http://www.storm.mg/article/406664

Government Accountability (政府问责)

去年扶貧資金至少7.3億被冒領挪用 扶貧辦稱已改革 (At least 730 million yuan of poverty alleviation fund embezzled. Authority pledges reform)
Radio Television Hong Kong, March 7, 2018
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1384482-20180307.htm

Related:
刘永富:已有500多位基层同志倒在脱贫攻坚第一线 (Liu Yongfu, head of Poverty Alleviation Office, claims more than 500 cadres “fall on the frontline of storming war against poverty”)
China.com.cn, March 7, 2018
http://news.sina.com.cn/c/nd/2018-03-07/doc-ifxipenp2973589.shtml

Five years after graft scandal, China city says still dealing with aftermath
Reuters, March 6, 2018
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-parliament-chongqing/five-years-after-graft-scandal-china-city-says-still-dealing-with-aftermath-idUSKCN1GI18Y

The secret insider terms used in Chinese money laundering
Quartz, March 6, 2018
https://qz.com/1223009/corruption-in-china-has-created-new-terms-for-money-laundering/

中国“维稳费”递增 2000亿黑色产业链 (China spends almost 200 billion yuan on stability maintenance in 2017, part of it paid to private security contractors)
Radio Free Asia, March 6, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/ql2-03062018103947.html

Related:
China spends more on domestic security as Xi’s powers grow
The Wall Street Journal, March 6, 2018
https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-spends-more-on-domestic-security-as-xis-powers-grow-1520358522

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

If you get on China's “blacklist,” you can be banned from travel
The Sydney Morning Herald, March 6, 2018
https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/big-brother-stops-millions-boarding-planes-trains-in-china-20180306-p4z33u.html

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

Wary Taiwan eyes growing shadow of China’s Xi Jinping
Agence France-Presse, March 7, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/07/wary-taiwan-eyes-growing-shadow-chinas-xi-jinping/

America’s other espionage challenge: China
被美国忽视的间谍活动威胁:中国
The New York Times, March 5, 2017
EN: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/05/opinion/china-espionage.html
CH: https://cn.nytimes.com/opinion/20180306/china-espionage/

Hong Kong (香港)

Freedom of speech a core value but advocating independence violates Basic Law, new CUHK head says
Hong Kong Free Press, March 7, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/07/freedom-speech-core-value-advocating-independence-violates-basic-law-new-cuhk-head-says/

Criticism of Hong Kong budget continues unabated, with public satisfaction at a record low
South China Morning Post, March 7, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2136030/criticism-hong-kong-budget-continues-unabated-public

In Pictures: Hong Kong migrant worker groups march in solidarity ahead of International Women’s Day
Hong Kong Free Press, March 7, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/07/pictures-hong-kong-migrant-worker-groups-march-solidarity-ahead-international-womens-day/

近百名市民九巴車廠外集會聲援被解僱車長 (Nearly 100 citizens gather in support of dismissed KMB drivers)
Radio Television Hong Kong, March 6, 2018
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1384343-20180306.htm

Related:
KMB suspends decision to fire four bus drivers who participated in strike, after outcry
Hong Kong Free Press, March 7, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/07/kmb-suspends-decision-fire-four-bus-drivers-participated-strike-protests/

High Court judge slams use of “undesirable” public relations tactics during Donald Tsang bribery hearing
South China Morning Post, March 6, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/2136025/high-court-judge-slams-undesirable-public-relations-tactics

王振民:港司法體系上設處理國家安全犯罪機構 (Liaison Office legal chief claims to top judiciary system of Hong Kong with institution that deals with national security crimes)
Citizen News, March 5, 2018
http://bit.ly/2tjpMHo

Commentary (评论)

Courts & torts: Driving the Chinese legal system
China File, March 6, 2018
http://www.chinafile.com/library/sinica-podcast/courts-torts-driving-chinese-legal-system

Xi Jinping is making his bid for the history books by pitting himself against Deng’s legacy
South China Morning Post, March 6, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2135784/xi-jinping-making-his-bid-history-books-pitting-himself

Related:
Xi won’t go
Human Rights Watch, March 6, 2018
https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/03/06/xi-wont-go