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.

Friday, May 10, 2019

June Fourth 30th Anniversary (“六四”三十周年)

On May 11 & 12, 1989:

  • May 11: Zhao Ziyang advocates acceding to demands: Zhao suggests in a Politburo meeting that the Party accede to students’ demands on corruption and that press freedom be expanded.
  • May 12: Hunger strike debates: In the evening, at Peking University, Chai Ling joins the efforts of students Wang Dan, Wu’er Kaixi, and six others to advocate a hunger strike as a strategy to force the government to listen to the students’ pleas. Students at Peking University in favor of a hunger strike rapidly increase in number from 40 to over 200.
See HRIC chronology and resources.

30 years ago: Journalists call for freedom of press
China Digital Times, May 10, 2019

Xi Jinping demands political loyalty from Chinese police with Tiananmen anniversary and trade tension
South China Morning Post, May 10, 2019

Related:
Xi Jinping tells Chinese police they must maintain social stability ahead of politically sensitive Tiananmen anniversary
South China Morning Post, May 10, 2019

Inside China’s massive surveillance operation
Wired, May 9, 2019

Tiananmen Square: China steps up curbs on activists for 30th anniversary
The Guardian, May 9, 2019

Xinjiang (新疆)

Rights lawyer who criticized President Xi's indefinite rule detained for subversion
Radio Free Asia, May 10, 2019

Missing Uyghur professor presumed detained in Xinjiang political “re-education camp”
Radio Free Asia, May 9, 2019

Jailed Uyghur scholar Ilham Tohti receives Freedom House’s “Freedom Award”
Radio Free Asia, May 9, 2019

Access to Justice (司法公正)

China’s whistle-blower judge in custody of anti-corruption agency and facing accusations of theft and fabrication
South China Morning Post, May 10, 2019

Chinese ex-Interpol president Meng Hongwei to face trial in Tianjin
South China Morning Post, May 10, 2019

Related:
China files formal charges against former Interpol chief
Reuters, May 10, 2019

Rights lawyer who criticized President Xi's indefinite rule detained for subversion
Radio Free Asia, May 10, 2019

The lawyers are here: Chinese state media popularize “rule of law”
What’s On Weibo, May 10, 2019

New rule seeks to stop abuse of China’s child fashion models
South China Morning Post, May 10, 2019

Ex-Swedish envoy to China Anna Lindstedt suspected of crime after setting up ‘unofficial’ meetings over detained bookseller
Agence France-Presse, May 10, 2019

UK investigates CGTN over forced confessions
China Digital Times, May 9, 2019

McMaster: China’s treatment of detained Canadians telling
The Washington Post, May 9, 2019

Chinese court delays ruling on Canadian Robert Lloyd Schellenberg’s death penalty appeal
South China Morning Post, May 9, 2019

Chinese rights lawyer demoted from teaching post at Shandong University
Radio Free Asia, May 9, 2019

Access to Information (信息公开)

Chinese media told to toe party line on trade war coverage, insiders say
South China Morning Post, May 10, 2019

China's gag order on Trump tweets leaves investors in the dark
The Sydney Morning Herald, May 10, 2019

Right-wing “fake news” circulates on China’s WeChat app as Australia’s election nears
Quartz, May 9, 2019

Minitrue: Follow the official line on Meng extradition
China Digital Times, May 9, 2019

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Chinese online travel agency removes products referring to Arunachal Pradesh after objections
The Hindu, May 9, 2019

Government Accountability (政府问责)

China “failing trans people” as young attempt surgery on themselves – study
The Guardian, May 10, 2019

Related:
The Chinese transgender individuals forced to take treatment into their own hands
Amnesty International, May 10, 2019

China has stepped up efforts to infiltrate Taiwan - president
Al Jazeera, May 10, 2019

China accused of secret lobbying campaign in UK against its critics
The Telegraph, May 10, 2019

EU report on China's Macao "groundless and irresponsible": Macao SAR gov't
Sina, May 10, 2019

Related:
Macao Special Administrative Region: Annual Report 2018 - Joint Report to the European Parliament and the Council
European Union External Action, May 8, 2019

China: A loan shark or the good Samaritan?
Deutsche Welle, May 9, 2019

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

Huawei heads south
Foreign Affairs, May 10, 2019

Oracle To Lay Off 1,600 Staff In China
SupChina, May 9, 2019

Related:
Senior staff at Oracle’s Beijing research centre protest layoffs
China Labour Bulletin, May 9, 2019

Huawei chief cites Trump comments as reason she can’t be extradited to US
Independent, May 9, 2019

Hong Kong (香港)

More than 1,200 protesters join rally outside Hong Kong’s legislature ahead of showdown meeting over controversial extradition bill
South China Morning Post, May 11, 2019

Hong Kong extradition bill: Only China’s supreme court should be able to request transfer of fugitives, lawmaker says
South China Morning Post, May 10, 2019

Hong Kong democracy advocates bring their protest against extradition bill to United States
South China Morning Post, May 10, 2019

Taiwan won’t ask for murder suspect if Hong Kong passes “politically motivated” extradition law
Agence France-Presse, May 10, 2019

Related:
Taipei will not agree to transfer of Hong Kong murder suspect if Taiwanese citizens risk being sent to mainland China
South China Morning Post, May 9, 2019

“Free Hong Kong” flash mob in Poland shows support for jailed Umbrella Movement activists
Hong Kong Free Press, May 10, 2019

Security guard accuses bosses in Hong Kong Legco of making staff declare political allegiance
South China Morning Post, May 9, 2019

Hong Kong's Lam faces uproar in legislature over renditions law
Radio Free Asia, May 9, 2019

Hong Kong’s former justice chief defends controversial rule change to tackle filibustering, arguing in court that legislature must evolve as changes come along
South China Morning Post, May 9, 2019

Commentary (评论)

Why Huawei security concerns cannot be removed from US-China relations
The Conversation, May 10, 2019

China’s New Carrier Shows Beijing Is Done Playing Defense
Foreign Policy, May 10, 2019

Occupy leaders’ sentences are a testament to the rule of law and Hong Kong’s openness as a society
South China Morning Post, May 9, 2019

China is now a power in Europe, but fears of interference in the EU are simplistic and misguided
The Conversation, May 9, 2019

US fears China may turn extradition tables
South China Morning Post, May 9, 2019