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 21, 2015

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Officials backtrack on refusal to buy flats in Tianjin blast zone
South China Morning Post, August 20, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/1851222/officials-backtrack-refusal-buy-flats-tianjin-blast-zone

Related:
当局承诺“受损房屋需回购的一定回购” (Authorities promise: Damaged homes in need of repurchase will definitely be repurchased)
Deutsche Welle, August 20, 2015
http://bit.ly/1HZbKFg

China's leaders vow to severely punish officials responsible for Tianjin's deadly blasts
South China Morning Post, August 20, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1851223/chinas-leaders-vow-severely-punish-officials

Poisonous connections: The explosions exposed murky links between business and government
The Economist, August 22, 2015
http://www.economist.com/news/china/21661818-explosions-exposed-murky-links-between-business-and-government-poisonous-connections

Chinese authorities investigate mass fish death near Tianjin explosion site
The Guardian, August 21, 2015
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/21/chinese-authorities-investigate-mass-fish-death-near-tianjin-explosion-site

Tianjin explosion erodes faith in leadership for many in China
Wall Street Journal, August 20, 2015
http://www.wsj.com/articles/blast-erodes-faith-in-leadership-for-many-in-china-1440094622

Xi Jinping's reforms encounter “unimaginably fierce resistance”, Chinese state media says in “furious” commentary
South China Morning Post, August 21, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1851314/xi-jinpings-reforms-encountering-fierce-resistance

中纪委立案审查令政策严重违纪 (CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection investigates Ling Zhengce for serious discipline violations)
Radio France Internationale, August 21, 2015
http://rfi.my/1E7Y3sk

How General used his military service to amass fortune
Caixin, August 21, 2015
http://english.caixin.com/2015-08-21/100842193.html

党政干部损害生态环境 追责谁执行?——四问《党政领导干部生态环境损害责任追究办法(试行)(Who investigates when Party and government cadres harm the ecological environment?—4 questions on the “Measures for Investigating Responsibility of Party and Leading Government Cadres for Harm to the Ecological Environment” (trial draft) )
Sichuan Legal News, August 20, 2015
http://dzb.scfzbs.com/shtml/scfzb/20150820/29960.shtml

Related:
党政领导干部生态环境损害责任追究办法(试行)(Measures for Investigating Responsibility of Party and Leading Government Cadres for Harm to the Ecological Environment (trial draft))
General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, August 8, 2015
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2015-08/17/c_1116282540.htm