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 27, 2019

Xinjiang (新疆)

Rising Chinese political star Wang Junzheng confirmed in Xinjiang security role
South China Morning Post, February 27, 2019

Related:
鐵腕治疆 陳全國表現獲中央肯定 反恐模式或「輸出」他省鄰國 (Chen Quanguo praised for “iron fist” rule of Xinjiang, counterterrorism model may be exported to other provinces and neighboring countries)
Ming Pao, February 27, 2019

Yale University students team up to combat Uyghur crisis
Yale Daily News, February 26, 2019

Uyghurs pressure Beijing as envoys visit Xinjiang
China Digital Times, February 25, 2019

Access to Justice (司法公正)

当局拒让江天勇出狱后回老家
Jailed Chinese rights lawyer won’t be allowed home on release: Family
Radio Free Asia, February 26, 2019

Related:
關注江天勇安全獲釋聯署聲明 (Joint letter calling for the safe release of Jiang Tianyong)
China Human Rights Lawyers Concern Group, February 26, 2019

司法部召开2019年直属机关党的工作暨纪检工作会议,袁曙宏强调以高度的思想自觉行动自觉坚决做到”两个维护” 持续深入推进司法部和全系统党的政治建设 (Yuan Shuhong, CPC Secretary of Ministry of Justice, calls on affiliated organs to “unwaveringly build the Ministry of Justice into a political organ”) 
Ministry of Justice, February 26, 2019

最高检:检察机关办理英烈保护领域公益诉讼案件50余件 (Since Heroes and Martyrs Law came into force, procuratorial organs tried citizens involved in over 50 cases of online insults)
Supreme People’s Court, February 26, 2019

Access to Information (信息公开)

Taiwan, Tibet, Tiananmen: How to get your video game banned in China for political reasons
South China Morning Post, February 27, 2019

Related:
盼各方「冷靜下來」 製作商宣布《還願》暫時下架 (“Devotion” temporarily taken off shelves, developer Red Candle Games wants all sides to “calm down”)
The Stand News, February 26, 2019

Beijing censors foreign books printed in China
China Digital Times, February 26, 2019

China’s censors are purging the internet of millennial angst
Tech in Asia, February 26, 2019

Chinese institute expands influence in Auckland
Stuff, February 26, 2019

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Chinese authorities halt fracking in Sichuan after residents protest
Agence France-Presse, February 26, 2019

How “Boys’ Love” authors are using love to make war on ignorance
Sixth Tone, February 26, 2019

Young people left behind in China’s snowbound rust belt
The New York Times, February 26, 2019

Young Taiwanese are dreaming of careers in China, but unification is still a nightmare
SupChina, February 26, 2019

Related:
Taiwan’s KMT presidential prospect pledges closer ties with Beijing
Bloomberg, February 26, 2019

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Could this be the end for China’s notorious household registration system?
South China Morning Post, February 26, 2019

成都公安继续传唤基督徒 11人被行拘 (Chengdu police summon 44 members of Autumn Rain Covenant Church, 11 placed under administrative detention)
Radio Free Asia, February 26, 2019

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

Chinese police use surveillance technology to identify people by their walking style
Independent, February 27, 2019

HSBC investigation led to charges against Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou, after U.S. demanded bank’s help
Reuters, February 27, 2019

Related:
No backdoors in 5G technology, says Huawei
Agence France-Presse, February 26, 2019

Key senators say administration should ban Huawei tech in U.S. electric grid
The Hill, February 25, 2019

天安门广场实现5G信号全覆盖,将首次服务“两会”新闻报道 (Wall-to-wall 5G technology in Tiananmen Square deployed for the first time for news coverage of annual Two Congresses)
The Paper, February 26, 2019

Hong Kong (香港)

Debate over “vague” definition of computer use offence reaches Hong Kong’s top court
Hong Kong Free Press, February 26, 2019

Video: Beijing requests report on Hong Kong independence party ban, as chief exec. denies “interference”
Hong Kong Free Press, February 26, 2019

Related:
中央公函促特首交禁民族黨報告 法政匯思:形同警告 擺法庭上枱 (Progressive Lawyers’ Group: Beijing’s letter endorsing party ban and demanding report may put pressure on Court)
The Stand News, February 27, 2019

Beijing backs city government’s ban on Hong Kong National Party, leader Carrie Lam says
South China Morning Post, February 27, 2019

Beijing demands report from Hong Kong over independence ban
Radio Free Asia, February 26, 2019

《成報》老闆谷卓恒:將揭習近平家族貪腐、粵港全部資產 程度遠超江朱胡溫 (Owner of Sing Pao Daily News says he will disclose Xi Jinping’s family corruption and all assets in Hong Kong and Macau)
The Stand News, February 26, 2019

Related:
Sing Pao Staff threatened in Hong Kong
China Digital Times, February 23, 2019

Commentary (评论)

赛默飞世尔在中国跨出必要一步,但还不够
Thermo Fisher’s necessary, but insufficient, step in China
Human Rights Watch, February 22, 2019

The 228 incident still haunts Taiwan: From memorials to vandalism, Taiwan continues to remember its history — and debate its future
The Diplomat, February 27, 2019