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, January 14, 2016

Access to Justice (司法公正)

美国呼吁中国释放周世锋、王宇、李和平等律师 (U.S. calls on China to release lawyers Zhou Shifeng, Wang Yu, Li Heping, among others)
Voice of America, January 14, 2016
http://www.voachinese.com/content/us-concerns-china-lawyers-20160113/3144702.html

Related:
Chinese rights advocates Wang Yu, Bao Longjun formally arrested on subversion charges
South China Morning Post, January 13, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1900993/chinese-rights-advocates-wang-yu-and-bao-longjun

"The smog is thick and the night dark”: China charges seven human rights lawyers with subversion
South China Morning Post, January 12, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1900498/smog-thick-and-night-dark-china-charges-seven-human

“维权律师的行动能力让中共恐惧” (“Rights lawyers’ action power threatens CPC”)
Raido France Internationale, January 13, 2016
http://cn.rfi.fr/中国/20160113-“维权律师的行动能力让中共恐惧”

Lawyer Wang Yu, held since “Black Friday,” charged
China Digital Times, January 13, 2016
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2016/01/lawyer-wang-yu-and-husband-held-since-black-friday-charged/

Mass Crackdown on Chinese Lawyers and Defenders
中国大规模镇压维权律师和活跃人士
Human Rights in China, January 13, 2016
EN: http://www.hrichina.org/en/mass-crackdown-chinese-lawyers-and-defenders
CH: http://hrichina.org/chs/zhong-guo-da-gui-mo-zhen-ya-wei-quan-lu-shi-he-huo-yue-ren-shi

Access to Information (信息公开)

Bad boy, Baidu: Communist Party paper criticizes Chinese internet giant over chat room management
South China Morning Post, January 13, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1901003/bad-boy-baidu-communist-party-paper-criticises-chinese

China is planning a publication that’s digital only and in English—and state-controlled
Quartz, January 13, 2016
http://qz.com/591900/china-is-planning-a-publication-thats-digital-only-and-in-english-and-state-controlled/

The porn trial that’s captivating China’s Internet
The Wall Street Journal, January 12, 2016
http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2016/01/12/the-porn-trial-thats-captivating-chinas-internet/

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

China's feminists hail expected election of Taiwan's Tsai
Reuters, January 13, 2016
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-taiwan-election-women-idUSKCN0UR0YM20160113

Nanjing taxi drivers take strike into its fourth day
Caixin, January 12, 2016
http://english.caixin.com/2016-01-12/100898579.html

China accused of denying Swedish embassy access to detained activist
The Guardian, January 13, 2016
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/13/china-accused-of-denying-swedish-embassy-access-to-detained-activist

Related:
Arrest of Swedish rights worker raises questions about the future of foreign NGOs in China
Washington Post, January 13, 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/01/13/arrest-of-swedish-rights-worker-raises-questions-about-the-future-of-foreign-ngos-in-china/

艾未未:乐高决定是“言论自由的胜利” (Ai Weiwei: Lego’s decision is a “victory for freedom of expression”)
British Broadcasting Corporation, January 14, 2015
http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/china/2016/01/160114_china_aiweiwei_lego_response

Government Accountability (政府问责)

【書店5人失蹤】台灣陸委會:很難想像民主地方發生這種事 絕不容忍在台發生 (Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council on disappearance of 5 HK booksellers: Hard to imagine this to happen in a democratic place, would not be allowed to happen in Taiwan)
Mingpao, January 14, 2015
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20160114/s00001/1452737776385

Museum gives fallen Chinese leaders a new trial in the court of public opinion
The Wall Street Journal, January 13, 2015
http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2016/01/13/museum-gives-fallen-chinese-leaders-a-new-trial-in-the-court-of-public-opinion/

Victim of Tianjin chemical blast to sue Chinese government over lack of compensation
The Independent, January 12, 2016
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/victim-of-tianjin-chemical-blast-to-sue-chinese-government-over-lack-of-compensation-a6806556.html

Former Public Security Vice-Chief jailed
China Digital Times, January 12, 2016
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2016/01/189938/

Six suspects still at large after Shenzhen landslide
Hong Kong Free Press, January 13, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/01/13/six-suspects-still-at-large-after-shenzhen-landslide/

President Xi Jinping pledges to revamp China’s sweeping anti-corruption campaign
South China Morning Post, January 13, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1900500/president-xi-jinping-pledges-revamp-chinas-sweeping

China makes more military reforms, sets up graft busting unit
Reuters, January 11, 2016
http://www.reuters.com/article/china-military-idUSKCN0UQ0CL20160112

Hong Kong (香港)

The law school stands its ground as HK’s democracy icons debate the city’s future
Hong Kong Free Press, January 13, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/01/13/the-law-school-stands-its-ground-as-hks-democracy-icons-debate-the-citys-future/

【施政報告】提「一帶一路」40次 田北俊:李波一次都唔提,唔關心一國兩制架? ([Policy address] Lawmaker James Tien on CY Leung’s mentioning of “One Belt One Road” 40 times: Not even a mentioning about Lee Bo, is One Country Two Systems not a concern?)
Mingpao, January 13, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20160113/s00001/1452675642568

Related:
Hong Kong Legco president urges Beijing to reassure “one country, two systems” still intact in wake of missing bookseller case
South China Morning Post, January 13, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1900497/hong-kong-legco-president-urges-beijing-reassure-one-country

Pro-Beijing lawmaker calls on Hong Kong chief executive to demand answers from mainland China over missing booksellers
South China Morning Post, January 14, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1901113/pro-beijing-lawmaker-calls-hong-kong-chief-executive-demand

Page One bookstore pulls sensitive titles from shelves but says memo to staff was a hoax
Hong Kong Free Press, January 13, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/01/13/page-one-bookstore-pulls-sensitive-titles-from-shelves-but-says-memo-to-staff-was-a-hoax/

Publisher suspends launch of dissident’s new book on Xi Jinping due to “fear and pressure”
Hong Kong Free Press, January 12, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/01/12/publisher-suspends-launch-of-dissidents-new-book-on-xi-jinping-due-to-fear-and-pressure/

National Security & Counterterrorism (国家安全和反恐)

新疆将起草“反宗教极端主义”法规 (Xinjiang to draft “anti-religious extremism” laws)
British Broadcasting Corporation, January 14, 2016
http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/china/2016/01/160114_china_xinjiang_anti-extremism_statute

Opinion and Editorial (观点和社论)

A letter to the People’s Daily on China Labor Bulletin’s work with labor activists in China
China Labor Bulletin, January 12, 2016
http://www.clb.org.hk/en/content/letter-people%E2%80%99s-daily-china-labour-bulletin%E2%80%99s-work-labour-activists-china

Related:
A reply to the People’s Daily report on the director of the Panyu Workers Service Centre, Zeng Feiyang
对《人民日报》关于“番禺打工族服务部”主任曾飞洋先生报道的回应
China Labor Bulletin, January 8, 2016
EN: http://www.clb.org.hk/en/sites/default/files/File/letter%20to%20Peoples%20Daily.pdf
CH: http://www.clb.org.hk/en/sites/default/files/File/CLB对人民日报报道的回应.pdf

“工运之星”曾飞洋被抓:打着公益幌子敛财谋色 (“Star of labor activists” Zeng Feiyang taken away: In the guise of charity, a cheat for money and sex)
People’s Daily, December 22, 2015
http://app.peopleyuqing.com/detail/index/itemId/1458714752025600_cms_1458714752025600

Given concerns over missing bookseller Lee Bo, it’s vital for all sides to respect Hong Kong’s Basic Law or confidence will crumble
South China Morning Post, January 12, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1900071/given-concerns-over-missing-bookseller-lee-bo-its-vital-all