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.

Friday, August 15, 2014

Censorship and Surveillance (审查和监控)

Blurred lines: the ambiguity of censorship on China’s top messaging app
The Wall Street Journal, August 14, 2014
http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2014/08/15/the-ambiguity-of-censorship-on-chinas-top-messaging-app-wechat/

Corruption (腐败)

China graft crackdown helps drive money into Australia property
Reuters, August 14, 2014
uk.reuters.com/article/2014/08/14/uk-australia-china-realestate-idUKKBN0GE0V720140814

Cyber Security (网络安全)

Minister: China launching “severe” cyber attacks on Taiwan
Agence France-Presse, August 13, 2014
www.defensenews.com/article/20140813/DEFREG03/308130020/Minister-China-Launching-Severe-Cyber-Attacks-Taiwan

Health (健康)

Passengers with HIV sue China's Spring Airlines
British Broadcasting Corporation, August 15, 2014
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-28804219

Hong Kong (香港)

香港特首梁振英在反占中呼吁书上签名 (Hong Kong Chief Executive CY Leung signs anti-Occupy Central petition)
British Broadcasting Corporation, August 15, 2014
http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/china/2014/08/140815_hong_kong_anti_occupation.shtml

Laughing off threats in the fight against a fake democracy
在香港与假民主战斗,陈健民笑对死亡威胁
The New York Times, August 14, 2014
cn.nytimes.com/china/20140814/c14hongkong/dual/

会长支持白皮书 港律师会通过对其不信任动议
Solicitors vote to unseat Law Society president Ambrose Lam
South China Morning Post, August 14, 2014
CH: http://www.nanzao.com/sc/hk/35406/hui-chang-zhi-chi-bai-pi-shu-gang-lu-shi-hui-tong-guo-dui-qi-bu-xin-ren-dong-yi
EN: http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1573871/solicitors-pass-vote-no-confidence-law-society-chief-ambrose-lam

Related:
Ambrose Lam courted triumph, controversy as Law Society leader
South China Morning Post, August 15, 2014
www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1573742/ambrose-lam-courted-triumph-controversy-law-society-leader

Human Rights Defenders (人权卫士)

王译夫妇被扣后见律师 张小玉新律师要求会见仍被禁 (Detained activist couple able to meet lawyer, Zhang Xiaoyu's new lawyer barred from meeting client)
Radio Free Asia, August 14, 2014
www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/ql2-08142014103749.html

Family of dissident lawyer fears for his health after prison
New York Times, August 14, 2014
sinosphere.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/08/14/family-of-dissident-lawyer-fear s-for-his-health-after-prison-2/

中国监狱为良心犯而开 李化平妻子:是国家的悲哀 (Li Huaping's wife: jailing of people like Li “is a sorrow for the country")
Radio Free Asia, August 15, 2014
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/ck-08152014094957.html

Information Control (信息控制)

中国人权蓝皮书 外宣报告卖高价 (Gov't-backed institute's China human rights “blue book” has a hefty price tag)
Voice of America, August 14, 2014
www.voachinese.com/content/blue-book-on-china-human-rights-20140814/2413865.html

Labor (劳工)

维权人士:涉毒艺人遭非法歧视 (Rights group: actors facing drug charges suffer from employment discrimination)
Voice of America, August 14, 2014
www.voachinese.com/content/china-drug-crackdown-20140814/2413846.html

Related:
Chinese theater groups say they won't hire actors linked to drugs as gov't conducts crackdown
Associated Press, August 14, 2014
www.usnews.com/news/entertainment/articles/2014/08/14/chinese-theaters- wont-hire-drug-linked-performers

Protests and Petitions (抗议和请愿)

Petitioner tells of abuse and torture in “black jail”
South China Morning Post, August 14, 2014
www.scmp.com/news/china-insider/article/1573635/petitioner-tells-abuse-and-torture-black-jail

北京开审访民“黑监狱”受虐案未提指使者 受害者拟联合被关者再控告 (Hearing on black jail case doesn’t cover “behind the scenes perpetrators,” victims and detainees plan to sue again)
Radio Free Asia, August 14, 2014
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/yf2-08142014103641.html

Rule of Law (法治)

Rule of law: Realigning justice
The Economist, August 16, 2014
www.economist.com/news/china/21612161-judges-are-often-impotent-chinas- courtrooms-might-be-changing-realigning-justice

International Relations (国际关系)

Obama’s “free rider” comment draws Chinese criticism
奥巴马批中国“搭便车”引中国官媒反击
The New York Times, August 14, 2014
cn.nytimes.com/world/20140814/c14obama/dual/

南苏丹叛军领袖:“中国应停止向南苏丹军售” (South Sudan rebel leader urges China to end arms sales to South Sudanese government)
Deutsche Welle, August 14, 2014
dw.de/p/1CuiY

Family of Canadian couple detained by China hires Beijing lawyers
Reuters, August 14, 2014
www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/14/us-china-canada-investigation-dUSKBN0GE1Z420140814

Technology (科技)

Apple launches first Chinese iCloud centre, but eyebrows raised over state firm’s role
Reuters, August 15, 2014
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1574195/apple-launches-first-mainland-icloud-centre-eyebrows-raised-over-state

Tibet (西藏)

At least 10 injured after police fire on Tibetan protesters
报道称四川甘孜警方向示威藏人开枪,10人受伤
The New York Times, August 14, 2014
cn.nytimes.com/china/20140814/c14tibetshooting/dual/

See statement:
Ten Tibetans injured after police open fire in Kardze, Tibet
International Campaign for Tibet, August 13, 2014
www.savetibet.org/ten-tibetans-injured-after-police-open-fire-in-kardze -tibet/

Opinion (观点)

Under rule of law, an independent judiciary answers to no political masters
South China Morning Post, August 15, 2014
www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1573656/under-rule-law-independent-judiciary-answers-no-political

“懂法者”习近平对法治的四个认知 (Xi Jinping's “four recognitions” of the rule of law)
Haiwai Net, August 15, 2014
opinion.haiwainet.cn/n/2014/0815/c456318-20970098.html