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, August 22, 2019

Xinjiang (新疆)

Qatar withdraws support for China over its treatment of Muslims
Bloomberg, August 21, 2019

Silencing of activist shows Kazakhstan’s contempt for rights: Conditions on Serikzhan Bilash’s release should be dropped
Human Rights Watch, August 21, 2019

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Taiwanese man tells Thai court he did not allow radio broadcasts into China
Radio Free Asia, August 21, 2019

Access to Information (信息公开)

「掃黑除惡」在掃除什麼?法官、掃黑辦主任和政法教師這樣說 (What is “sweeping away black and eliminating evil”? Mainland China’s national campaign against gangs, crime, and evil forces)
Initium, August 22, 2019

China’s propaganda machine is spending over $1 million to buy influence on foreign social media
Quartz, August 21, 2019

Related:
中国软实力的失败:对外谴责香港抗议
China’s soft-power failure: Condemning Hong Kong’s protests
The New York Times, August 20, 2019

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

北京律师陈秋实来港见证历史被强令提前返回 (In Hong Kong to witness history, Beijing lawyer Chen Qiushi is forced to return to China early)
Voice of America, August 22, 2019

Related:
Chinese human rights lawyer ”safe” after return from Hong Kong protests trip
South China Morning Post, August 21, 2019

澳警方:中港留学生示威中的辱骂行为违法 (Australian police: Threats and defamation used in protests between pro-China and pro-Hong Kong demonstrators are illegal, wearing facemasks is not)
Australian Broadcasting Corporation, August 21, 2019

Former Ontario Liberal cabinet minister headlines pro-Beijing rally near Toronto
National Post, August 21, 2019

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Macau to “elect” Beijing-backed leader
Taipei Times, August 22, 2019

China’s parliament rules out allowing same-sex marriage
Reuters, August 21, 2019

China’s grand plans for Shenzhen: The new plan for Shenzhen also shines a light on China’s long-term strategy toward Hong Kong
The Diplomat, August 21, 2019

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

中国产VPN程式九成存私隐风险 (Chinese VPNs contain privacy risks)
Radio Free Asia, August 21, 2019

Hong Kong (香港)

In Pictures: Sit-in marking a month since MTR mob attacks ends in dramatic standoff with Hong Kong riot police
Hong Kong Free Press, August 22, 2019

Related:
Hong Kong protesters clash with police, angry at lack of prosecutions after subway mob attack
Reuters, August 21, 2019

Expert in respiratory medicine urges Hong Kong police to draw up tear gas guidelines after warning of dangers of improper use
South China Morning Post, August 22, 2019

中国承认拘留英国驻香港领事馆一雇员 (China admits it has detained employee of UK consulate in Hong Kong)
Voice of America, August 21, 2019

Related:
China’s detention of a Hong Kong employee of the UK’s Hong Kong Consulate: A preliminary explainer
Jerome A. Cohen, August 21, 2019

“We feel helpless”: Hong Kong family's fears for detained UK consulate worker
The Guardian, August 21, 2019

Cathay Pacific pilot who went viral for telling Hongkongers to “keep it up” no longer with airline
Hong Kong Free Press, August 21, 2019

Department of Justice demands trainee lawyer explain accusations of hate speech directed at Hong Kong police
South China Morning Post, August 21, 2019

China’s three-pronged strategy to choke Hong Kong’s protests
Agence France-Presse, August 21, 2019

Commentary (评论)

Scare tactics from Beijing will only strengthen the resolve of Hong Kong protesters
South China Morning Post, August 22, 2019

Why there’s no end in sight to the Hong Kong protests
The Nation, August 21, 2019

How technology platforms should deal with hostile state-owned propaganda outlets
Freedom House, August 21, 2019

The perils of imperial alignment: Hong Kong’s anti-extradition movement at the crossroads of Chinese class struggle and Western-backed self determination
The Volcano, August 20, 2019