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, December 06, 2019

Xinjiang (新疆)

'Atrocity of the century': Uighur activist urges Australia to take tougher stance against China
The Guardian, December 5, 2019

U.S. Uighur bill's threat to surveillance economy puts China on offensive
Reuters, December 5, 2019

Related:
China summons U.S. embassy official, protests against U.S. House approval of Xinjiang-related bill
Sina English, December 5, 2019

China urges U.S. to learn lessons from 9/11 attacks, stop double standards on anti-terrorism
Sina English, December 5, 2019

中国针对少数民族的基因研究引发科学界反弹
China’s Genetic Research on Ethnic Minorities Sets Off Science Backlash
The New York Times, December 5, 2019

Uighur journalist Gulchehra Hoja on exposing China’s detention camps
Financial Times, December 4, 2019

Brother of Uyghur Linguist Confirmed Held in Xinjiang Internment Camp For Years
Radio Free Asia, December 5, 2019

Missing Uyghur Tech Company Owner Confirmed Held in Xinjiang Internment Camp
Radio Free Asia, December 4, 2019

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Former Chinese rights lawyer Tan Yongpei arrested for ‘inciting subversion’
Agence France-Presse, December 5, 2019

Tibetan Self-Immolator’s Family Are Held by Police For Questioning
Radio Free Asia, December 5, 2019

China urged to free Canadian Michael Kovrig after year of detention
Bloomberg, December 5, 2019

Related:
Why China must send Michael Kovrig home
Washington Post, December 3, 2019

China Has Invited 600 International Lawyers and Judicial Officials to its ‘Global Lawyers Forum,’ But These Chinese Lawyers Won’t Be Welcome
China Change, December 4, 2019

Access to Information (信息公开)

斥林心如「台獨」 網民判賠6萬 (Chinese netizen who criticized Taiwan actress as pro-independence fined by Beijing court for "unfounded" comments)
Ming Pao, December 6, 2019

Propaganda beyond the Great Firewall: Chinese party-state media on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube
MERICS, December 5, 2019

A Literary Reference Backfires
China Media Project, December 5, 2019

CGTN Think Tank launched in Beijing
Xinhua, December 4, 2019

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Chinese journalists at struggling media group ‘have not been paid all year’
South China Morning Post, December 5, 2019

Anonymous pro-China letter and a fight at Richmond high school prompt district-wide meetings
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, December 4, 2019

Government Accountability (政府问责)

In the UN, China uses threats and cajolery to promote its worldview
The Economist, December 7, 2019

China needs people to have more children. So why punish those who do?
The Economist, December 5, 2019

對等反制 中國限美外交官行動 (China to limit activities of U.S. diplomats in retaliation for similar measures by U.S.)
Ming Pao, December 6, 2019

From Xinjiang to Ningxia, China’s ethnic groups face end to affirmative action in education, taxes, policing
South China Morning Post, December 5, 2019

意国会不满中国阻挠黄之锋作证通过调查香港警暴决议 (Italian parliament passes motion to support investigation of police violence in Hong Kong)
Radio France Internationale, December 5, 2019

Related:
Chinese Diplomacy Takes an Aggressive Turn
Foreign Policy, December 4, 2019

China’s man in Washington says US building ‘Berlin Wall’ against Beijing
South China Morning Post, December 5, 2019

Peru and U.S. close to signing deal to counter Chinese influence in region: diplomat
Reuters, December 5, 2019

China ‘world’s worst’ for invasive use of biometric data
South China Morning Post, December 5, 2019

Why is Germany silent on China's human rights abuses?
Deutsche Welle, December 5, 2019

China envoy warns of 'destructive forces' trying to undermine US ties
The Guardian, December 4, 2019

Himalayan Buddhists Reject Beijing’s Claim of Control Over Tibet’s Dalai Lama
Radio Free Asia, December 4, 2019

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

Face-recognition spectacles to help Shenzhen customs
The Standard, December 6, 2019

China’s Huawei faces domestic backlash over detained ex-employee
华为因“251事件”受到国内舆论批评
Financial Times, December 6, 2019

Huawei cancels new phone launch in Taiwan after China row
Agence France-Presse, December 5, 2019

Related:
或因敏感议题 华为两项新品取消在台湾上市 (Huawei cancels launch of two products in Taiwan)
Deutsche Welle, December 5, 2019

Censored by a Chinese tech giant? Canadians using WeChat app say they're being blocked
National Post, December 4, 2019

China survey shows high concern over facial recognition abuse
Financial Times, December 4, 2019

Hong Kong (香港)

科大學生校董當選無效 校方:學生會指控另一候選人「中共代理人」不當 (Elected student representative for HKUST management board disqualified for accusing another candidate of being "agent of CPC")
Stand News, December 6, 2019

荃灣遭警開槍擊中胸口少年被控暴動案件押至明年再訊 (Student shot in the chest by live rounds during October 1 protests charged with rioting)
Radio Television Hong Kong, December 5, 2019

Motion to impeach Hong Kong Chief Exec. Carrie Lam rejected at legislature by pro-Beijing camp
Hong Kong Free Press, December 5, 2019

Related:
立法會否決彈劾行政長官議案 (LegCo vetoes motion to impeach Carrie Lam)
Stand News, December 5, 2019

《願榮光》管弦樂MV 榮登YouTube年度熱門本地音樂影片榜首 (“Glory to Hong Kong” song takes first place in YouTube's local music chart)
Stand News, December 5, 2019

Hong Kong gives protesters green light for big march on Sunday
Reuters, December 5, 2019

撐成立獨立調查委員會 蔣麗芸:查 831 死人等指控 還警察清白 (Pro-Beijing legislator supports independent investigation to prove police's innocence)
Stand News, December 5, 2019

HK police chief to pay courtesy call to Beijing
Global Times, December 5, 2019

What Are Ukrainian Fascists Doing in the Hong Kong Protests?
Vice News, December 5, 2019

Hong Kong residents living with tear gas worry of effects
Associated Press, December 4, 2019

Commentary (评论)

Stop Investing in China’s Brutality: It’s time for pension funds and others to stop supporting companies that abet Beijing’s crackdowns on China’s Uighurs and Hong Kong’s protesters
The New York Times, December 5, 2019

Did Beijing’s echo chamber render it deaf to Hong Kong’s distress?
South China Morning Post, December 5, 2019