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, December 11, 2013

Corruption (腐败)

深圳政法委一副巡视员被举报索贿80万嫖娼40次 (Shenzhen Party official allegedly took bribes of RMB 800,000 and solicited prostitutes 40 times)
Southern Metropolis Daily, December 11, 2013
http://news.eastday.com/eastday/13news/auto/news/china/u7ai326180_K4.html

China anti-corruption reform: shark fins, bird nests, upmarket cigarettes and alcohol banned from state events
International Business Times, December 9, 2013
www.ibtimes.com/china-anti-corruption-reform-shark-fins-bird-nests-upmarket-cigarettes-alcohol-banned-state-events

Disasters (灾难)

深圳今晨大火16人死亡 近百人聚集讨说法无人应 (Shenzhen market fire kills 16)
China National Radio, December 11, 2013
http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2013/12-11/5608448.shtml

Environment (环境)

China state media under fire for arguing benefits of smog
Reuters, December 10, 2013
www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/10/us-china-pollution-idUSBRE9B903O20131210

Related:
State media effort to spin the "5 benefits" of China's smog falls flat
Wall Street Journal, December 10, 2013
blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2013/12/10/state-media-effort-to-spin-the-5-benefits-of-chinas-smog-falls-flat/

New EPA chief visits China to talk air pollution in first trip abroad
Washington Post, December 10, 2013
www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/wp/2013/12/10/new-epa-chief-visits-china-to-talk-air-pollution-in-first-trip-abroad/

China boosts research as smog crisis raises fears over infertility
South China Morning Post, December 11, 2013
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1378103/china-boosts-research-effect-pollution-fertility-amid-smog-crisis

Freedom of Expression and Privacy (言论自由和隐私)

Chinese professor who advocated free speech is fired
教授张雪忠因提倡言论自由被解聘
The New York Times, December 11, 2013
http://cn.nytimes.com/china/20131211/c11professor/dual/

See Zhang’s article:
2013反宪政逆流的根源及危险 ("The Origin and the Perils of the Anti-Constitutionalism Campaign in 2013")
Independent Chinese Pen Center,December 10, 2013 http://www.chinesepen.org/Article/sxsy/201312/Article_20131210135721.shtml

Fresh fears of crackdown as Chinese professor is fired for "criticising Xi Jinping"
The Telegraph, December 10, 2013
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/10507646/Fresh-fears-of-crackdown-as-Chinese-professor-is-fired-for-criticising-Xi-Jinping.html

Hong Kong (香港)

Hong Kong squirms in the shadow of China, its overpowering big brother
Washington Post, December 10, 2013
www.washingtonpost.com/world/hong-kong-squirms-in-the-shadow-of-china-its-overpowering-big-brother/2013/12/09/cc9e48c0-5dd0-11e3-8d24-31c016b976b2_story.html

Human Rights Defenders (人权卫士)

China says U.S. has no right to comment on fate of activists
Reuters, December 10, 2013
www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/10/us-china-usa-rights-idUSBRE9B908120131210

Related:
Chinese law can't be tailored to suit individuals
Global Times, December 11, 2013
www.globaltimes.cn/content/831374.shtml#.Uqez7WQW0b4

ICT (信息和通信技术)

谷歌叫停香港数据中心 原因众说纷纭
Google abandons its Hong Kong data centre project
South China Morning Post, December 11, 2013
CH:http://www.nanzao.com/sc/hong-kong/17737/gu-ge-jiao-ting-xiang-gang-shu-ju-zhong-xin-yuan-yin-zhong-shuo-fen-yun
EN:http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1377908/google-abandons-its-hong-kong-data-centre-project

Labor (劳工)

“芭比女工”揭示中国劳工的悲惨处境 (Barbie employees reveal exploitation of Chinese workers)
Radio France Internationale, December 11, 2013
http://rfi.my/1kzkaIH

Worker deaths raise questions at an Apple contractor in China
The New York Times, December 11, 2013
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/11/technology/worker-deaths-raise-questions-at-an-apple-contractor-in-china.html

Society (社会)

劳教权益团体促中国取消对性工作者的收容制度 (Rights group urges China to eliminate “custody and education” system for sex workers)
British Broadcasting Corporation, December 11, 2013
http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/china/2013/12/131211_china_justice_rights.shtml

Advocacy group calls China to shut labor camps for sex workers
Wall Street Journal, December 10, 2013
blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2013/12/10/advocacy-group-calls-china-to-shut-labor-camps-for-sex-workers/

See the report:
"Custody and Education": Arbitrary Detention for Female Sex Workers in China
Asia Catalyst, December 2013
asiacatalyst.org/blog/AsiaCatalyst_CustodyEducation2013-12-EN.pdf

Taiwan (台湾)

Taiwan ex-captain gets life term for spying for China
South China Morning Post, December 11, 2013
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1378462/taiwan-ex-captain-gets-life-term-spying-china