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, January 05, 2021

Taiwan (台湾)

Beijing using ‘cognitive warfare’ to sway Taiwan public opinion by feeding it misinformation, warns report
South China Morning Post, January 5, 2021

Access to Justice (司法公正)

China sentences top banker to death for corruption and bigamy
The Guardian, January 5, 2021

从张展案看“口袋罪”寻衅滋事:不听话的统统装进去 (Deciphering the “pocket crime” of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble” through Zhang Zhan’s case: How China uses it to bag all who disobey)
Voice of America, January 5, 2021

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

拼多多年轻员工“996”加班后猝死 官方账号“冷血”回复引发众怒 (Public outrage over Pinduoduo's cold-blooded response to the sudden death of young employee working the “996” schedule)
British Broadcasting Corporation, January 5, 2021

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Chinese Communist Party introduces new rules on what members can say as it ‘boosts internal democracy’
South China Morning Post, January 5, 2021

In a Topsy-Turvy Pandemic World, China Offers Its Version of Freedom
疫情新常态下,中国版本的“自由”

January 5, 2021

美国务卿与军控特使联合撰文:中国发展核力量的疯狂 (U.S. Secretary of State and Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing: The madness behind China's nuclear power expansion)
Voice of America, January 5, 2020

Related:
China's Nuclear Build-Up Should Worry the West | Opinion
Newsweek, January 5, 2021

回應美國對中國核武建設的指責 外交部:賊喊捉賊 (China MFA response to U.S. accusation on China's nuclear buildup: A thief crying "stop the thief")
Radio Television Hong Kong, January 5, 2021

2021年1月5日外交部发言人华春莹主持例行记者会
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying's Regular Press Conference on January 5, 2021
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, January 5, 2021

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

NYSE withdraws plans to delist 3 Chinese phone carriers
Associated Press, January 5, 2021

Hong Kong (香港)

宣誓修例擬涵蓋區議員、選委 消息:《區議會條例》料加DQ機制 (Legislation reforms: Oaths and Declarations Ordinance to apply to district council members; District Councils Ordinance to include disqualification mechanism)
HK01, January 5, 2021

Retiring top judge pleas to maintain Hong Kong's judicial independence
Radio France Internationale, January 5, 2021

Hong Kong police arrest another man over Yuen Long MTR mob attack
Hong Kong Free Press, January 5, 2021

突推「車牌查冊通知」 林鄭:新措施合理不礙新聞自由 記協:特首將新聞工作與起底問題混為一談 (Carrie Lam defends new restrictions on disclosure of motor vehicle registration info; Hong Kong Journalists Association: Chief Executive confuses journalism for doxing)
CitizenNews, January 5, 2021

Commentary (评论)

The Struggle Over Jimmy Lai’s Bail Is a Struggle Over Hong Kong’s Freedom of Expression
The Diplomat, January 5, 2021

专访:维权律师无意与极权制度为敌 (Interview with Xie Yanyi: Rights defense lawyers did not aim to be the enemy of authoritarianism)
Deutsche Welle, January 5, 2020