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.

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Corruption (腐败)

China’s anticorruption campaign spills over into new sectors
The Wall Street Journal, April 23, 2014
blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2014/04/23/chinas-anticorruption-campaign-spills-over-into-new-sectors/?mod=WSJBlog

Environment (环境)

Strongest sandstorm in decades sweeps China
The Telegraph, April 23, 2014
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/10783949/Strongest-sandstorm-in-decades-sweeps-China.html

China says more than half of its groundwater is polluted
The Guardian, April 23, 2014
www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/apr/23/china-half-groundwater-polluted

China’s toxic soil, air pollution, and dead animals prompt environmental reform
Vice News, April 24, 2014
news.vice.com/articles/chinas-toxic-soil-air-pollution-and-dead-animals-prompt-environmental-reform?trk_source=homepage-in-the-news

Health (健康)

Health officials raise "outbreak" concerns amid low public confidence in Chinese vaccines
South China Morning Post, April 24, 2014
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1495945/health-officials-raise-outbreak-concerns-amid-low-public-confidences

Hong Kong (香港)

Bankers tell Xi Jinping: Chinese politics put Hong Kong’s economy at risk
Wall Street Journal, April 23, 2014
blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2014/04/23/bankers-tell-xi-jinping-chinese-politics-put-hong-kongs-economy-at-risk/?mod=WSJBlog

Human Rights Defenders (人权卫士)

Chinese dissident who died in detention nominated for rights
Agence France-Presse, April 23, 2014
www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/chinese-dissident-who-died-in-detention-nominated-for-rights-114042301401_1.html

曹顺利获“诺贝尔”人权奖提名 (Cao Shunli a final nominee for top human rights award)
Radio France International, April 23, 2014
www.chinese.rfi.fr/中国/20140423-中国人权活动者曹顺利获 “诺贝尔”人权奖提名

Related:
Cao Shunli - China - Final Nominee 2014
Martin Ennals Foundation, April 23, 2014
www.martinennalsaward.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=217%3Acao-shunli-china-final-nominee-2014&catid=39%3Awinners&lang=en

Three finalists for top rights prize
Human Rights Watch, April 23, 2014
www.hrw.org/news/2014/04/23/three-finalists-top-rights-prize

For more information on Cao Shunli, see:
International Human Rights Award Honors Cao Shunli
曹顺利获国际人权奖殊荣
Human Rights in China, April 23, 2014
EN: www.hrichina.org/en/press-work/international-human-rights-award-honors-cao-shunli
CH: www.hrichina.org/chs/xin-wen-gong-zuo/cao-shun-li-huo-guo-ji-ren-quan-jiang-shu-rong

International Relations (Security, Trade and Investment), 国际关系(安全,贸易和投资)

Exclusive: Russia, China block Central African Republic blacklist at U.N.
Reuters, April 23, 2014
www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/23/us-centralafrica-un-sanctions-idUSBREA3M1GA20140423

China says probing reports Chinese chlorine used in Syria attack
Reuters, April 23, 2014
uk.reuters.com/article/2014/04/23/uk-syria-crisis-china-idUKBREA3M0PQ20140423

Internet (互联网)

How China and Russia are trying to undermine the Internet, again
Washington Post, April 23, 2014
www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2014/04/23/how-china-and-russia-are-trying-to-undermine-the-internet-again/

June Fourth (六四)

借“孩童街便溺事件“阻人六四来港? 异见人士被告知不准出境 (Activist says authorities are using “urinating child” incident to warn mainlanders from going to Hong Kong during June Fourth)
Radio Free Asia, April 23, 2014
www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/gangtai/sy1-04232014100203.html

Related:
Hongkongers clash with mainland parents after toddler urinates in Mong Kok street
South China Morning Post, April 23, 2014
http://www.scmp.com/news/china-insider/article/1494356/hongkongers-clash-mainland-parents-after-allow-two-year-old

Labor (劳工)

助东莞裕元工人罢工维权 两劳工组织成员“被失踪” (Two labor activists who provided assistance to striking workers disappeared)
Radio Free Asia, April 23, 2014
www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/yf1-04232014100128.html

Related:
China activist missing after trying to help striking workers
Reuters, April 23, 2014
www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/23/us-china-strike-detention-idUSBREA3M0EJ20140423

Law (法律)

中国明确5月起禁越级上访 信访60日内须办结 (New regulations effective in May require petitioners to follow gov't hierarchy, mandate resolution within 60 days)
Beijing News, April 24, 2014
news.hexun.com/2014-04-24/164209622.html

See regulations:
国家信访局《关于进一步规范信访事项受理办理程序引导来访人依法逐级走访的办法》全文 (Full text of the State Bureau of Letters and Visits' "Regulations Concerning the Further Standardization of the Reception and Processing of Letters and Visits to Channel Visitors to Submit Their Petitions in an Ascending Order of Government Hierarchy in Accordance with the Law")
People's Daily, April 23, 2014
politics.people.com.cn/n/2014/0423/c99014-24934756.html
Related:

Beijing bans petitioners seeking redress from appealing directly to higher authorities
South China Morning Post, April 23, 2014
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1495755/beijing-bans-petitioners-seeking-redress-appealing-directly-higher

Tibet (西藏)

达赖喇嘛将访问挪威 中国表示强烈反对 (China protests Dalai Lama's upcoming visit to Norway)
British Broadcasting Corporation, April 23, 2014
www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/world/2014/04/140423_china_norway_dalai.shtml