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.

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Access to Justice (司法公正)

China underscores CPC code of conduct in education on law
Xinhua, April 17, 2016
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-04/17/c_135287350.htm

Accessing Chinese criminal law legal developments via Wechat (updated)
Supreme People’s Court Monitor, April 16, 2016
https://supremepeoplescourtmonitor.com/2016/04/16/accessing-chinese-criminal-law-legal-developments-via-wechat/

China sets death penalty threshold in graft cases
Hong Kong Free Press, April 18, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/04/18/china-sets-death-penalty-threshold-in-graft-cases/

China holds lawyers, threatens activist amid Mongolian pollution protest
Radio Free Asia, April 18, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/china-holds-lawyers-04182016111456.html

Are gay rights really making progress in China?
The Diplomat, April 18, 2016
http://thediplomat.com/2016/04/are-gay-rights-really-making-progress-in-china/

怕中国?美国律师协会取消滕彪新书出版 (Fear China? The America Bar Association cancels the publication of Teng Biao’s new book)
Voice of America, April 19, 2016
http://www.voachinese.com/content/voa-news-weishi-conenct-teng-biao-20160418/3290654.html

Access to Information (信息公开)

Internet star Papi Jiang censored for foul language
Sixth Tone, April 18, 2016
http://www.sixthtone.com/news/china-censors-its-biggest-internet-celebrity-papi-jiang

海外著名中文网站《中国人权双周刊》遭骇客强力攻击严重瘫痪 (Famous overseas Chinese website “HRIC Shuangzhoukan” struck down by hackers)
Radio France Internationale, April 19, 2016
http://cn.rfi.fr/中国/20160419-海外著名中文网站《中国人权双周刊》遭骇客强力攻击严重瘫痪

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Twitter’s new China head wants to “work together” with state media
Hong Kong Free Press, April 19, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/04/19/twitters-new-china-head-wants-to-work-together-with-state-media/

Chinese parents outraged after illnesses at school are tied to pollution
The New York Times, April 19, 2016
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/19/world/asia/china-pollution-cancer-changzhou.html

Government Accountability (政府问责)

President Xi calls for "people-centric" reform
Xinhua, April 18, 2016
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-04/18/c_135290561.htm

Top legal affairs official in Hebei is subject of “discipline” probe
Caixin, April 18, 2016
http://english.caixin.com/2016-04-18/100933682.html

China’s Communist Party shows the door to “superstitious” former vice-governor
South China Morning Post, April 19, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1936994/chinas-communist-party-shows-door-superstitious-former

China widens graft curbs on business activities by officials' families
Channel NewsAsia, April 19, 2016
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/china-widens-graft-curbs/2709424.html

China’s vaccine scandal threatens public faith in immunizations
The New York Times, April 18, 2016
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/19/world/asia/china-vaccine-scandal.html

美学者:美国对中国的政策一开始就设定错误 (American scholar: U.S.’s China policy is wrong from the outset)
Voice of America, April 19, 2016
http://www.voachinese.com/content/us-foreign-policy-20160418/3291709.html

Hong Kong (香港)

Hong Kong to probe “bag-gate” amid accusations of abuse of power
Radio Free Asia, April 18, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/power-04182016110517.html

Pro-Beijing lawmaker says talk of independence will lead to Article 23 security law
Hong Kong Free Press, April 18, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/04/18/pro-beijing-lawmakers-say-talk-of-independence-will-lead-to-article-23-security-law/

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

China observes 1st National Security Education Day
Xinhua, April 15, 2016
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-04/15/c_135282737.htm

Chinese man sentenced to death for leaking 150,000 classified documents
The Guardian, April 19, 2016
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/19/chinese-man-sentenced-to-death-for-leaking-150000-classified-documents

Opinion and Editorial (观点和社论)

Targeting beyond China
The New York Times, April 14, 2016
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/14/opinion/targeting-beyond-china.html

Employees in China should be allowed to protest against work conditions without fear of reprisals
South China Morning Post, April 19, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1937021/employees-china-should-be-allowed-protest-against-work

China and the American Bar Association—Another sad story
Jerry’s Blog, April 18, 2016
http://www.jeromecohen.net/jerrys-blog/china-and-the-american-bar-association

Think China’s Xi Jinping is in trouble? Think again
The Wall Street Journal, April 18, 2016
http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2016/04/18/think-chinas-xi-jinping-is-in-trouble-think-again/

Functional constituencies: Broadening the franchise is vital for accountability and governance
Hong Kong Free Press, April 17, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/04/17/functional-constituencies-broadening-the-franchise-is-vital-for-accountability-and-governance/

解讀港人「人心背離」之謎 (Understanding the myth of Hong Kong people’s sense of belonging)
Ming Pao, April 19, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20160419/s00022/1461030737186

體現主權與「台灣李波事件」 (Exemplifying sovereignty and the “Taiwan Lee Bo case”)
Ming Pao, April 19, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20160419/s00022/1461030238796