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, July 13, 2005

July 13, 2005

Top news of the day

State Security - State secrets
Mainland officials warn HK researcher
SCMP, 13/07/2005
Guan Yi(管軼), a leading virologist and assistant professor at the Hong Kong University, has been accused of the possibility of "leaking state secret and exaggerating the extent of outbreak" after his research on migratory bird flu virus in Qinghai published on Nature and Science, an international scientific journal. Ministry of Agriculture refused to comment the case.
http://hongkong.scmp.com/hknews/ZZZ8OQ030BE.html


News

Bilaterals - EU/China
EU Not Ready to Grant China Market Status
AP, July 13, 2005
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050713/ap_on_bi_ge/eu_china_3

Bilaterals - US/China
Four strategic opportunities for China-US relations
People’s Daily Online, July 13, 2005
http://english.people.com.cn/200507/13/text20050713_195863.html

Bilaterals - Other
Kim Jong-Il meets Chinese presidential envoy
Xinhua, July 13, 2005
http://english.people.com.cn/200507/13/text20050713_195921.html

China condemns comments by Japanese cabinet member on "comfort women" issue
Xinhua, July 13, 2005
http://english.people.com.cn/200507/13/text20050713_195729.html

Vietnam to bring friendly ties with China to new height
Xinhua, July 13, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-07/14/content_3216494.htm

Borders Territories/Issues - Taiwan
Recognition by compatriots is what we harvest: Yok Mu-ming
People’s Daily Online, July 13, 2005
http://english.people.com.cn/200507/13/text20050713_195862.html

Parties unite to combat Taiwan secession
China Daily, July 13, 2005
http://english.people.com.cn/200507/13/text20050713_195811.html

Detention – Shi Tao (師濤)
Lawyer questioned court ruling on Shi Tao's appeal
法院维持对师涛原判遭律师质疑
Voice of America, 12/07/2005
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/2005-07-12-voa69.cfm

Environment - Natural Resources
China oil firm to sweeten bid for Unocal: Giant's board tweaking $18.5 billion offer to gain support, source says
Reuters, July 13, 2005
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/8564450/

House panel to weigh in on China oil deal
Reuters, July 13, 2005
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/13/AR2005071300222.html

World's largest power grid begins operation in China
Xinhua, July 13, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-07/13/content_3215906.htm

Big Shift in China's Oil Policy: With Iraq Deal Dissolved by War, Beijing Looks Elsewhere
Washington Post Foreign Service, July 13, 2005
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/12/AR2005071201546.html

China Unocal bid fraught with economic, security risks: US experts
AFP, July 13, 2005
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050713/bs_afp/uschinaoilcnooc_050713215135

Human Rights - Freedom of speech
Beijing Lawyer Calls For Free Speech in Libel Case
Radio Free Asia, 13/07/2005
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/2005/07/11/peasant_authors/

China Wages a New War on Academic Dissent
Chronicle of Higher Education via a Glimpse, 13/07/2005
http://www.howardwfrench.com/archives/2005/07/13/china_
wages_a_new_war_on_academic_d


Labor - Industrial accidents
Blast victims to receive compensation
China Daily, 13/07/2005
http://www2.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-07/13/content
_459689.htm


Death Toll Rises to 83 in Xinjiang Coal Mine Gas Blast
Xinhua, July 13, 2005
http://china.org.cn/english/China/134901.htm#

Law
Improvement of the State Compensation System require multiple efforts
完善国家赔偿制度须多管齐下
Legal Daily, 13/07/2005
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/bm/2005-07/13/content_166679.htm

Court of Final Appeal: Pay Cuts for Civil Servants Lawful
Xinhua, July 13, 2005
http://china.org.cn/english/China/134902.htm#

Law – Court system
Five major grey areas in People's Juror system
陪审制出现五大模糊地带
Legal Daily, 13/07/2005
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/bm/2005-07/13/content_1666
96.htm


Problems and solutions for lacking qualified judges in grassroots courts
“法官断层”的问题与出路
Legal Daily, 13/07/2005
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/bm/2005-07/13/content_1668
88.htm


Shortages of qualified judges in grassroots courts alarming, law graduates never assigned to grassroots court in 8 years
八年未进法律专业毕业生 基层法院法官断层问题突出
Legal Daily, 13/07/2005
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/bm/2005-07/13/content_166
893.htm


Legal – Legal Reform
NPC expect to revise the Criminal Procedural Law next year, forceful confession top the list for amendment
人大有望明年修改刑事诉讼法 防刑讯逼供成重点
Xinhuanet.com, 13/07/2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2005-07/13/content_3212
099.htm


Media - Censorship
China Bars Some Stations on Partnerships
Associated Press, July 13, 2005
http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/ap/2005/07/13/ap2136629.html

China bans foreign participation in domestic TV channels
Xinhua, July 13, 2005
http://english.people.com.cn/200507/13/print20050713_195922.html

Media - Internet
In China, sophisticated filters keep the Internet near sterile
Knight Ridder Newspapers, July 13, 2005
http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/12123691.htm

Multilaterals
China willing to push forward DDA negotiations with other WTO members: Minister
Xinhua, July 13, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-07/14/content_3216499.htm

NGOs
Environmental protection NGOs with bright future: insiders
Xinhuanet.com, 12/07/2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-07/12/content_321
0494.htm


Poverty - Rural poverty
Rural Poor Aren't Sharing In Spoils of China's Changes
Washington Post, 12/07/2005
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/
07/11/AR2005071101710.html


Public Health
China's migratory birds carry a more deadly avian flu strain
AFP, July 13, 2005
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050713/hl_afp/healthchinaflu_050713115250

Reforms - CCP
Public servants in China must be recruited through examination: minister
Xinhua, July 13, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-07/13/content_3216386.htm

Reforms - Corruption
Almost 300 suspects netted in crackdown on money laundering
AP, July 13, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ290NV2BE.html

Reforms - Economic
Gov't Role Stressed in Market Reform
China Daily, July 13, 2005
http://china.org.cn/english/China/134900.htm#

Reforms - Military
Chinese military to be restructured
Xinhua, July 13, 2005
http://english.people.com.cn/200507/13/text20050713_195881.html

Resettlement - Forceful eviction
Protests against forceful eviction of continue in Foshan
佛山市五百村民继续抗议当局强行徵地
Chinesenewsnet.com, 12/07/2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/SinoNews/Main
land/cna_2005_07_12_22_51_10


Society
Political system should protect the interest of all social classes to avoid conflicts and division of the society
中国社会分层严重 需制度化保证各阶层安全均衡
YahooNew.com (China), 13/07/2005
http://cn.news.yahoo.com/050712/1338/2dkf0.html

70% official archives open to public
Xinhuanet.com, 12/07/2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-07/12/content_
3211374.htm