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.

Monday, June 16, 2014

Corruption (腐败)

Spooked by probes, pharma executives ask: should I leave China?
Reuters, June 13, 2014
uk.reuters.com/article/2014/06/13/uk-china-pharmaceuticals-idUKKBN0EO01120140613

China investigates top national politician
Associated Press, June 14, 2014
news.yahoo.com/china-investigates-top-national-politician-095336110.html

Health (健康)

Complaints about air pollution in China's capital double in five months
Reuters, June 14, 2014
www.reuters.com/article/2014/06/14/us-china-pollution-beijing-idUSKBN0EP0A320140614

Hunan chemical plant shut over high lead levels in children, official blames “pencils”
Global Times, June 16, 2014
http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/865838.shtml

Hong Kong (香港)

全港毅行争普选起步 呼吁市民占中投票 (Democracy advocates launch 84-hour walkathon in lead up to Occupy Central "referendum")
Voice of America, June 16, 2014
www.voachinese.com/content/walk-for-universal-suffrage-20140614/1936890.html

白皮书与防火墙 (White paper and the Great Firewall)
Deutsche Welle, June 15, 2014
dw.de/p/1CIkg

鲍彤:一国两制的法定义和白皮书的篡改义 (Former premier's secretary slams Beijing's white paper on Hong Kong)
Deutsche Welle, June 13, 2014
dw.de/p/1CHym

Q. and A.: Anson Chan on Beijing’s pressure tactics in Hong Kong
陈方安生:香港的自治正受到威胁
New York Times, June 13, 2014
cn.nytimes.com/china/20140613/c13chanqa/dual/

香港千人冲击立法会反新界东北发展计划 警拘捕21人港府称不会撤回计划 (Protesters tried to storm LegCo in an attempt to force the gov't to withdraw controversial development plan)
Radio Free Asia, June 15, 2014
www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/gangtai/yf-06152014100704.html

Human Rights Defenders (人权卫士)

郭飞雄申请取保候审再被拒健康状况明显恶化 (Rights defender Guo Feixiong's bail denied, health deteriorates in detention)
Radio Free Asia, June 14, 2014
www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/ql-06142014120205.html

For more information on Guo Feixiong, see:
www.hrichina.org/en/defenders/guo-feixiong

中国120多名法律人要求确保律师与当事人的会见权 (In open letter, 120 human rights lawyers and legal professionals ask State Council to amend public security regulations to ensure lawyer-client meeting rights)
Radio Free Asia, June 15, 2014
www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/sd-06152014154333.html

See open letter:
121名法律人联名要求国务院改变《公安机关办理刑事案件程序规定》第374条的 公民建议书 (Recommendations jointly issued by 121 legal professionals to the State Council for the amendment of Article 374 of the Regulations on the Procedures for Handling Criminal Cases by Public Security Organs)
Chinese lawyers and legal professionals, June 15, 2014
http://www.hrichina.org/en/citizens-square/121-legal-professionals-sign-citizen-petition-calling-state-council-revise-article

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

中国否认英媒指李克强以取消访英威胁见女皇的背后迷思 (What’s behind China's rejection of allegations that it used strong-arm tactics to get royal audience)
Radio France International, June 16, 2014
www.chinese.rfi.fr/中国/20140615-中国否认英媒指李克强以 取消访英威胁见女皇的背后迷思

China diversifying investments in Latin America, say analysts
Agence France-Presse, June 14, 2014
www.themalaymailonline.com/money/article/china-diversifying-investments-in-latin-america-say-analysts#sthash.6aXv9Zjg.dpuf

Korea, China to sign agreement to protect citizens
The Korea Times, June 15, 2014
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2014/06/176_159156.html

June Fourth (六四)

China deports artist Guo Jian in Tiananmen crackdown
The Financial Times, June 16, 2014
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/c080f982-f544-11e3-91a8-00144feabdc0.html#axzz34ohYHngv

异议艺术家陈光获释 (Soldier-turned-artist Chen Guang released)
Deutsche Welle, June 14, 2014
dw.de/p/1CILL

China frees artist held for Tiananmen anniversary
Associated Press, June 14, 2014
www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/china-frees-artist-held-for-tiananmen-anniversary/2014/06/14/80086a3e-f38c-11e3-8d66-029598e98add_story.html

Related:
Restrictions, detentions, and disappearances before June 4, 2014
2014年六四25周年纪念日前被限制自由、拘留和失踪者名单
Human Rights in China, last updated June 13, 2014
EN: www.hrichina.org/en/restrictions-detentions-and-disappearances-june-4-2014
CH: www.hrichina.org/chs/2014nian-liu-si-25zhou-nian-ji-nian-ri-qian-bei-xian-zhi-zi-you-ju-liu-he-shi-zong-zhe-ming-dan

LGBTI (男女同性恋、双性恋、变 性人和两性人)

Heard in the hutong: the Chinese view on gay marriage
Wall Street Journal, June 16, 2014
blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2014/06/16/heard-in-the-hutong-the-chinese-view-on-gay-marriage/?mod=chinablog

Open Government Information (信息公开)

北京将全面公开重大事故调查报告全文 (Beijing to publish reports of gov't investigation into major incidents)
Fazhiwang, June 15, 2014
www.chinanews.com/gn/2014/06-15/6281985.shtml

Social Security (社会安全)

城乡养老保险制度衔接办法7月1日实施 (Urban and rural pension insurance systems to be linked starting July 1)
Caijing, June 16, 2014
economy.caijing.com.cn/2014-06-16/114265185.html

Taiwan (台湾)

俞正声:"尊重台湾同胞对现行社会制度的认同" (Senior China official: "we respect Taiwanese compatriots' affirmation of their current social system")
Deutsche Welle, June 15, 2014
dw.de/p/1CIsj

China respects Taiwan's social system, senior official says
Reuters, June 15, 2014
www.reuters.com/article/2014/06/15/us-china-taiwan-idUSKBN0EQ08C20140615

XUAR (新疆维吾尔自治区)

Concerns in China over alleged secret trial of Uighur scholar Ilham Tohti
The Guardian, June 16, 2014
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/16/concerns-china-secret-trial-uighur-scholar-ilham-tohti

Opinion (观点)

With white paper, Beijing may have achieved the opposite of what it wants
South China Morning Post, June 16, 2014
http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1531714/white-paper-beijing-may-have-achieved-opposite-what-it-wants