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.

Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Interview: “The Chinese Communist Party wants to stay in power forever”
专访鲍彤:中共高层当年为何废除终身制?
Radio Free Asia, February 27, 2018
EN: https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/interview-the-chinese-communist-party-wants-to-stay-in-power-forever-02272018095543.html
CH: https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/zhengzhi/ql2-02272018094553.html

With Xi’s power grab, China joins new era of strongmen
习近平掌控下,中国加入全球威权回归趋势
The New York Times, February 26, 2018
EN: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/26/world/asia/china-xi-jinping-authoritarianism.html
CH: https://cn.nytimes.com/china/20180227/china-xi-jinping-authoritarianism/

全国政协委员朱征夫建议:按搜查程序约束扣查嫌疑人手机行为 (CPPCC’s Zhu Zhengfu suggests procedures and guidelines for mobile phone search and seizure)
Procuratorate Daily, February 27, 2018
http://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_2011500

Access to Information (信息公开)

Uyghur student in US faces down Chinese threats to “turn him in”
Radio Free Asia, February 28, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/uyghur/threats-02272018150624.html

Ce*sored! China bans the letter N from the Internet as Xi Jinping extends grip on power
The Guardian, February 28, 2018
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/28/china-bans-the-letter-n-internet-xi-jinping-extends-power

国务院办公厅印发《关于推进社会公益事业建设领域政府信息公开的意见》 (General Office of State Council issues opinions to promote open government information in 7 public interest areas, including poverty alleviation, education, disaster rescue, and public culture)
Xinhua News Agency, February 26, 2018
http://www.gov.cn/xinwen/2018-02/26/content_5268894.htm

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Disagreement between Chinese celebrities sparks online accusations of gender inequality
China Film Insider, February 28, 2018
http://chinafilminsider.com/disagreement-between-chinese-celebrities-sparks-online-accusations-of-gender-inequality/

著名報人李大同發公開信反對修憲 「我都這把年紀了,還怕什麼」 (Renowned Chinese journalist Li Datong defies constitutional amendment in open letter, claiming he is too old to be afraid)
British Broadcasting Corporation, February 27, 2018
http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/trad/chinese-news-43209195

Related:
Xi term limit proposal sparks rare public dissent in China
Associated Press, February 27, 2018
https://www.apnews.com/3abb380a71614cd7bf291a85dda9eebe

关于非营利组织免税资格认定管理有关问题的通知 (Ministry of Civil Affairs issues notice on tax exemption for nonprofits, disqualifying those involved in “illegal political activities”)
Ministry of Civil Affairs, February 27, 2018
http://www.mca.gov.cn/article/zwgk/tzl/201802/20180200007943.shtml

中國的「後89一代」:凝視深淵,抑或忘記大象——誰是「後89」? (“Post 1989” Chinese activists: Who are they, how is their activism different from their predecessors?)
SOS Reader, February 26, 2018
Part 1: https://sosreader.com/ n/user/@achilleszhao/article/5a93e8fdfd8978000175d811
Part 2: https://sosreader.com/n/user/@achilleszhao/article/5a9552bcfd89780001674166

Government Accountability (政府问责)

违反八项规定 20多名官员死在酒场上 (More than 20 officials violate party disciplines and die of alcohol poisoning at dinner table)
China Youth Daily, February 27, 2018
http://news.sina.com.cn/c/zs/2018-02-27/doc-ifyrwsqi9884219.shtml

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

About to break the law? Chinese police are already on to you
The Wall Street Journal, February 27, 2018
https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-said-to-deploy-big-data-for-predictive-policing-in-xinjiang-1519719096

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

Xi Jinping extends power, and China braces for a new Cold War
習近平推進大國議程,中美或迎來新冷戰
The New York Times, February 27, 2018
EN: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/27/world/asia/xi-jinping-china-new-cold-war.html
CH: https://cn.nytimes.com/china/20180228/xi-jinping-china-new-cold-war/zh-hant/

Taipei faces a tougher Beijing if Xi Jinping stays in power, analysts warn
South China Morning Post, February 27, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2134967/taipei-faces-tougher-beijing-if-xi-jinping-stays-power

Hong Kong (香港)

Plenty for Legco by-election hopefuls to chew over in New Territories East despite familiar look to race
South China Morning Post, February 28, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2134936/plenty-legco-election-hopefuls-chew-over-new-territories

朱偉聰:經歷半年監禁,更毋容置疑不認罪 (On bail after spending 6 months in jail, David Chu, political prisoner from N.T. East protest says he would never plead guilty)
Inmediahk, February 28, 2018
https://www.inmediahk.net/node/1055420a

Taiwan and HK fear China’s harder line after Xi Jinping power play
Financial Times, February 28, 2018
https://www.ft.com/content/c577bb4a-1b94-11e8-aaca-4574d7dabfb6

香港团体抗议习近平欲「恢复帝制」 (Hong Kong groups protest against Xi’s “revival of monarchy”)
Radio Free Asia, February 27, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/gangtai/cp2-02272018094838.html

Commentary (评论)

「終身制」與中國夢 (Indefinite rule and the Chinese Dream)
Apple Daily, February 28, 2018
https://hk.news.appledaily.com/local/daily/article/20180228/20317417

Xi Jinping dreams of world power for himself and China
The New York Times, February 27, 2018
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/27/opinion/xi-jinping-power-china.html

Reform of Labor Contract Law unlikely at this year’s National People’s Congress
China Labor Bulletin, February 27, 2018
http://www.clb.org.hk/content/reform-labour-contract-law-unlikely-year%E2%80%99s-national-people%E2%80%99s-congress

Xi Jinping’s power grab demands a clear western response
Financial Times, February 27, 2018
https://www.ft.com/content/c826a386-1af6-11e8-956a-43db76e69936

Xi Jinping's latest power move, in context
The Diplomat, February 27, 2018
https://thediplomat.com/2018/02/xi-jinpings-latest-power-move-in-context/

Globalization has created a Chinese monster
Foreign Policy, February 26, 2018
http://foreignpolicy.com/2018/02/26/globalization-has-created-a-chinese-monster/