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, March 05, 2019

Xinjiang (新疆)

U.S. lawmakers complain Trump has taken “no meaningful action” on abuse of China Muslims
Reuters, March 5, 2019

“再教育营”输出廉价劳动力?(“Reeducation” camps are a source of cheap labor)
Deutsche Welle, March 4, 2019

Kazakhs won’t be silenced on China’s internment camps
Foreign Policy, March 4, 2019

China’s expanding war on Islam: Now they’re coming for the Kazakhs
Washington Post, March 1, 2019

The spectre of insecurity: The CCP’s mass internment strategy in Xinjiang
China Leadership Monitor, March 1, 2019

Access to Justice (司法公正)

强调要提高政治站位、坚守安全底线,切实做好全国“两会”期间司法行政系统安全稳定工作(Yuan Shuhong, CPC Secretary of Ministry of Justice, urges command centers and prisons in Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Guangdong, Tibet, and Xinjiang to ensure security, stability during Two Congresses)
Legal Daily, March 3, 2019

China accuses two Canadians of spying, widening a political rift
The New York Times, March 4, 2019

Related:
China accuses detained ex-Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig of spying, stealing state secrets
Reuters, March 4, 2019

《環時》:被捕加拿大前外交官康明凱 竊取、刺探中國情報 部門適時展下一步司法程序 (State media says detained Canadian stole Chinese intelligence, legal proceedings to be commenced at “appropriate time”)
The Stand News, March 4, 2019

Chinese prosecutors forced by public opinion to accept self-defence plea from couple who killed stalker
South China Morning Post, March 4, 2019

Access to Information (信息公开)

Xi calls on cultural workers to reflect people’s voices
Sina, March 5, 2019

Related:
习近平看望参加政协会议的文艺界社科界委员 (In meeting with CPPCC members from fields of the arts, literature and social sciences, Xi Jinping describes their work as “root-nurturing, soul-forging”)
The Paper, March 4, 2019

人大代表马化腾:建“一站式”平台控制未成年人上网时长 (NPC delegate and Tencent CEO proposes “one-stop” platform to limit time minors spend online and control content based on age)
Beijing News, March 5, 2019

New Zealand publishers feel long arm of Chinese censorship
Newsroom, March 4, 2019

China aims to become “strong film power” like U.S. by 2035, calls for more patriotic films
Variety, March 3, 2019

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

U.S. faith groups assemble a united front decrying Beijing’s restrictions on Chinese religious freedom
South China Morning Post, March 5, 2019

China questions Tibetan pilgrims in Lhasa as sensitive anniversaries approach
Radio Free Asia, March 4, 2019

Government Accountability (政府问责)

China's checkbook diplomacy in Cambodia a double-edged sword creating resentment
Channel NewsAsia, March 5, 2019

Related:
Is Cambodia’s Koh Kong project for Chinese tourists or China’s military?
South China Morning Post, March 5, 2019

“Two sessions”: Beijing locked down for China’s greatest political spectacle
The Guardian, March 4, 2019

Related:
张业遂:2019年重点推进四个方面立法工作 (Zhang Yesui, NPC spokesperson: 2019 legislation includes data security law, biosecurity law, community correction law, amendments to criminal law, amendments to NPC rules of procedure)
Legal Daily, March 4, 2019

两千万人信用分数不够 被禁止搭乘飞机和火车 (20 million people on social credit blacklist in 2018 banned from plane and train travel)
Deutsche Welle, March 4, 2019

Taiwan protests exclusion from WHO flu vaccine meeting in Beijing
Focus Taiwan, March 3, 2019

Taiwan ready to share experience as victim of China’s hostility: MOFA
Focus Taiwan, March 3, 2019

Chinese legislator urges removal of family planning policies from Constitution
Global Times, March 3, 2019

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

消息称华为将起诉美国政府
Huawei said to be preparing to sue the U.S. government
The New York Times, March 5, 2019

Related:
Huawei exec’s lawsuit likely aims to affect extradition proceedings, legal experts say
The Star, March 3, 2019

Huawei executive’s life in detention seems luxurious to some Canadians
The New York Times, March 4, 2019

Hundreds of millions of Chinese chat logs leak online
Financial Times, March 4, 2019

Related:
Over 300 million Chinese private messages were left exposed online
The Verge, March 4, 2019

WeChat Pay cross-border payments skyrocket in Hong Kong and Macau
TechNode, March 4, 2019

Huawei says it would never hand data to China's government. Experts say it wouldn't have a choice
CNBC, March 5, 2019

Related:
Law expert: Chinese government can’t force Huawei to make backdoors
The Star, March 3, 2019

Hong Kong (香港)

U.S. Consul Kurt Tong refuses to apologise for questioning Hong Kong’s autonomy from Beijing, saying “open conversation is good for everybody”
South China Morning Post, March 4, 2019

Lawmaker questions policy allowing Beijing’s office to purchase Hong Kong flats without paying stamp duty
Hong Kong Free Press, March 5, 2019

Hong Kong Polytechnic University student plans legal challenge against expulsion
South China Morning Post, March 5, 2019

Journalists and lawyers slam law proposal that will mean sensitive documents remain under wraps forever in Hong Kong
South China Morning Post, March 5, 2019

Chief of China’s top political advisory body highlights opposition to Hong Kong independence at the start of nation’s two-week annual parliamentary sessions
South China Morning Post, March 4, 2019

Let Hong Kong courts judge overseas murder cases involving Hongkongers instead of extraditing on case-by-case basis, says Bar Association
South China Morning Post, March 4, 2019

Related:
【移交逃犯擬修例】大律師公會:或破壞香港作為受法治保障自由安全城市 (Amendments to extradition laws “potentially undermine the reputation of Hong Kong as a free and safe city governed by the rule of law,” says Bar Association)
Ming Pao, March 4, 2019

讀者來函 港府擬修訂逃犯條例——法律抑或政治問題?(Amendments to extradition law: A matter of law or politics?)
The Initium, March 4, 2019

Commentary (评论)

China’s kidnap attempt in Hong Kong and harassment of overseas Chinese
Jerome A. Cohen, March 5, 2019

修訂現時的《逃犯條例》的人權疑慮 (Human rights concerns in Hong Kong’s extradition law amendments)
The Stand News, March 5, 2019

China: Abolish arbitrary detention for sex workers: Legislative agency recommends ending “custody and education” system
Human Rights Watch, March 4, 2019