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, October 22, 2015

Access to Justice (司法公正)

中国团伙私设检察机关 假借反腐敲诈贪官 (Criminal gang builds fake “procuratorate interrogation room” with aim to extort money from corrupt officials)
Radio Free Asia, October 20, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/zhengzhi/hc-10202015124513.html

Access to Information (信息公开)

Chinese President Xi Jinping's call for “socialist arts” sparks fears over creative freedom
South China Morning Post, October 22, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1870191/chinese-president-xi-jinpings-call-socialist-arts

Minitrue: Levin Zhu’s economic warning
China Digital Times, October 20, 2015
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2015/10/minitrue-levin-zhus-economic-warning/

China is “criminalising basic reporting”: International response to journalist, police officer held over case of corrupt qigong master
South China Morning Post, October 20, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1869973/journalist-police-officer-held-over-case-chinese

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

中国著名电器厂数百工人游行维权 半年抗议无果遭政府推诿 (Hundreds of workers from China’s largest electrical appliance factory march to defend their legal rights after 6 months of protests went unanswered by government)
Radio Free Asia, October 21, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/xl1-10212015104305.html

Xi Jinping’s carriage ride up London’s Mall runs the gauntlet of Falun Gong, Tibet and China supporters
South China Morning Post, October 22, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/1870077/xi-jinpengs-carriage-ride-londons-mall-runs-gauntlet

Related:
Anti-China demonstrators protest outside Buckingham Palace –video
The Guardian, October 20, 2015
http://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2015/oct/20/anti-china-demonstrators-protest-outside-buckingham-palace-video

Mainland netizens confused by Hong Kong’s decision to cover postbox royal cyphers
Hong Kong Free Press, October 20, 2015
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2015/10/20/mainland-netizens-confused-by-hong-kongs-decision-to-cover-postbox-cyphers/

Ai Weiwei accuses David Cameron of “putting human rights aside” during Chinese President's state visit
The Independent, October 20, 2015
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/ai-weiwei-accuses-david-cameron-of-putting-human-rights-aside-during-chinese-presidents-state-visit-a6703131.html

Chinese government would collapse without “Berlin Wall” surveillance system, says blind dissident Chen Guangcheng
The Independent, October 22, 2015
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/chinese-government-would-collapse-without-berlin-wall-surveillance-system-says-blind-dissident-chen-a6703086.html

Government Accountability (政府问责)

China investigates senior military logistics officer
Reuters, October 21, 2015
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/10/21/us-china-corruption-military-idUSKCN0SF0BV20151021

No golf, “extravagant eating” or extra-marital sex: China's Communist Party lays down the law to its members on “corrupt practices”
South China Morning Post, October 22, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1870770/no-golf-or-extra-marital-sex-chinas-communist-party

Time to end China's one-child policy urgently: government advisers warn of demographic crisis ahead
South China Morning Post, October 21, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1870195/its-time-allow-more-babies-china-urged-government

Human rights: What is China accused of?
British Broadcasting Corporation, October 21, 2015
http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-34592336

Xi Jinping: World has “room for improvement” on human rights—video
The Guardian, October 22, 2015
http://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2015/oct/21/xi-jinping-china-has-room-for-improvement-on-human-rights-video

Related:
【習近平訪英】英記者尖銳問人權 習:人權保障沒有最好 只有更好 (Xi Jinping’s visit to UK: BBC journalist asks pointed question about human rights, Xi says, globally, there’s no “best human rights protection,” only “better”)
Mingpao, October 21, 2015
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20151021/s00005/1445440893664

Critics slam U.K. government for “selling out” to China on rights
Radio Free Asia, October 21, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/china-britain-10212015122638.html

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

Xi Jinping state visit: UK and China sign cybersecurity pact
The Guardian, October 21, 2015
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/oct/21/uk-china-cybersecurity-pact-xi-jinping-david-cameron

Hong Kong (香港)

Hong Kong student activist Joshua Wong joins London protests against President Xi Jinping's visit
South China Morning Post, October 21, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/1870204/hong-kong-student-activist-joins-london-protests

Hong Kong's pro-establishment candidates face battle for share of vote in district council elections
South China Morning Post, October 20, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1870681/hong-kongs-pro-establishment-candidates-face-battle-share

District Council elections: battle renewed in a shifting political landscape
South China Morning Post, October 20, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1870684/district-council-elections-battle-renewed-shifting-political

Counterterrorism (反恐)

China says Tibet officials must be “fortress” against separatism
Reuters, October 22, 2015
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/10/22/us-china-tibet-idUSKCN0SG07Q20151022

Opinion and Editorial (观点和社论)

Hong Kong’s distinct advantage is freedom, but for how long?
Hong Kong Free Press, October 21, 2015
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2015/10/21/hong-kongs-distinct-advantage-is-freedom-but-for-how-long/

Britain “sucking up” to China is a national humiliation, says PM's former adviser
The Guardian, October 21, 2015
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/21/britain-sucking-up-china-national-humiliation-former-adviser-steve-hilton

Related:
Since when does Xi rule Britannia?
Foreign Policy, October 20, 2015
http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/10/20/china_xi_jinping_david_cameron_visit_london_queen_kowtow/

HKFP Interview: Hong Kong student leader Joshua Wong on Xi’s UK visit, human rights and democracy
Hong Kong Free Press, October 21, 2015
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2015/10/21/hkfp-interview-hong-kong-student-leader-joshua-wong-on-xis-uk-visit-human-rights-and-democracy/

Britain: “China’s best partner in the West”?
China File, October 20, 2015
http://www.chinafile.com/conversation/britain-chinas-best-partner-west