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, March 21, 2019

Xinjiang (新疆)

Muslim countries urged to press China end crackdown of Uyghurs
Al Jazeera, March 20, 2019

China to invite European diplomats to Xinjiang in new diplomatic push
Reuters, March 20, 2019

Related:
“再教育营”关注不断 中国计划邀请欧洲外交官参观新疆 (Beijing to invite diplomats of European embassies to visit Xinjiang)
Radio France Internationale, March 21, 2019

After mass detentions, China razes Muslim communities to build a loyal city
Wall Street Journal, March 20, 2019

Access to Justice (司法公正)

苏州大抓捕嫌疑人戈觉平下周受审 (Ge Jiaoping, activist arrested in 2016 Suzhou crackdown, to face trial next week for inciting subversion of state power)
Radio Free Asia, March 20, 2019

孟宏伟妻控诉“政治迫害” 担心安全 (Grace Meng, wife of disappeared former Interpol chief, files complaint in French courts alleging attempted kidnapping)
Deutsche Welle, March 20, 2019

China court plans to set up national environmental fund: Media
Reuters, March 20, 2019

陕西监狱探索“五大改造”新路径,数百党支部书记为罪犯上政治大课 (Shaanxi prison system employs hundreds of CPC secretaries to guide prisoners “to recognize Party leadership ideologically and emotionally”
Legal Daily, March 20, 2019

Access to Information (信息公开)

China trying to influence the world’s media, says new report
Foreign Correspondents’ Club, March 20, 2019

In Beijing, Harvard President Bacow affirms academic freedom
Harvard Magazine, March 20, 2019

Related:
Full text: The pursuit of truth and the mission of the university
Harvard University Office of the President, March 20, 2019

在通向网络强国的征程上稳步前进——写在中央网络安全和信息化委员会成立一周年之际(Xinhua on first anniversary of Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission’s formation: “the Party’s voice has become the strongest voice in cyberspace”)
Xinhua, March 20, 2019

New book examines “the great firewall of China”
China Digital Times, March 19, 2019

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

內地女權人士鄭楚然:丈夫被捕,因幫塵肺病工人維權 (Activist Wei Zhili arrested for helping silicosis workers’ rights defense movement, says wife and Feminist Five member “Da Tu” Zheng Churan)
The Stand News, March 21, 2019

Government Accountability (政府问责)

EU leaders to coordinate positions on Thursday ahead of China summit
Reuters, March 20, 2019

Related:
Is China the EU’s “dear friend” or “strategic rival” on human rights?
Human Rights Watch, March 20, 2019

Chinese head teachers ordered to eat with pupils after string of food safety scandals
South China Morning Post, March 20, 2019

Related:
中国成都七中实验学校食物丑闻背后的政府公信力“塔西佗陷阱” (The “Tacitus Trap” and government credibility in recent food safety scandal)
BBC News, March 20, 2019

China marks Tibetan anniversary with military parade
Human Rights Watch, March 20, 2019

Disciplinary inspectors urged to fulfill duty of political supervision
Xinhua, March 20, 2019

Swedish ambassador to China investigated for security breaches in Gui Minhai case
South China Morning Post, March 20, 2019

Pakistan distances itself from China's Belt and Road: Islamabad diverts $171m from CPEC to fund projects legislators want
Nikkei Asian Review, March 20, 2019

Italy rattles US and EU with likely support for China's Belt and Road
The Guardian, March 20, 2019

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

团队自编程序证实手机能偷听,安全专家:未发现“偷听”铁证 (Tech group mocks-up program to prove mobile apps capable of eavesdropping; security expert says no concrete evidence of actual violations)
The Paper, March 21, 2019

U.S. firms are helping build China’s Orwellian state: Tech partnerships are empowering new methods of control
Foreign Policy, March 19, 2019

Hong Kong (香港)

【種族歧視】8歲至今被搜身逾20次 巴裔大學生批歧視條例落後 (Stopped and searched more than 20 times since age 8: A Pakistani student in Hong Kong talks about shortcomings of discrimination laws)
HK01, March 21, 2019

Related:
Why fourth-generation Hongkonger of Pakistani origin who was first stopped and searched by police at age 8 can’t count on racial discrimination law for help
South China Morning Post, March 21, 2019

【移交逃犯】廠商會引述李家超:考慮剔除「十條八條」商業罪行 (Manufacturers’ Association cites Security Chief after meeting: Will consider removing “a few” commercial crimes from extradition law amendments)
The Stand News, March 20, 2019

Related:
Pressure mounts on Hong Kong to remove economic crimes from new China extradition law
Hong Kong Free Press, March 20, 2019

商界憂修訂《逃犯條例》 林鄭:願意再認真研究一下 (Facing persistent concern from business sector, Carrie Lam says willing to “give some more serious thought” to extradition law arrangements)
The Stand News, March 20, 2019

【全文轉載】林麗棠老師弟妺發公開信 冀盡快查真相 指教育局旁觀 (Family of teacher who committed suicide issues open letter to urge comprehensive investigation of systemic issues, criticizes inaction by Education Bureau)
The Stand News, March 20, 2019

港府推6240亿“明日大屿”被指是一带一路工程消化国内过剩产能 (HK $624 billion Lantau Tomorrow Vision project attacked as HK’s version of BRI meant to absorb production overcapacity in mainland)
Radio France Internationale, March 19, 2019

Beijing’s top official in Hong Kong taunts Washington over Huawei executive Sabrina Meng’s arrest, calling it “world’s biggest advertisement”
South China Morning Post, March 20, 2019

People’s Daily head leaves for high-level position at Beijing’s Liaison Office in Hong Kong
Caixin, March 20, 2019

Commentary (评论)

Rich, autocratic China is too powerful an adversary for any democracy
South China Morning Post, March 21, 2019

China’s tit-for-tat detention of two Canadians is a test: The world will judge Beijing on its treatment of the men seized after Huawei CFO arrest
Financial Times, March 20, 2019

【太陽花五週年】藝術小組王翔:318之後,買衣服以不容易被警察抓住為原則 (Interview with Wang Xiang, of Sunflower Movement’s art team : After 318, I buy clothes that don’t make me conspicuous to the police)
The News Lens, March 20, 2019