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, April 29, 2021

Xinjiang (新疆)

The CCP Hand Behind China’s Xinjiang Cotton Backlash
The Diplomat, April 29, 2021

Access to Information (公众知情权)

China Renews Crackdown on Online Feminist Groups
Voice of America, April 28, 2021

China’s Propaganda Machine Misses Its Soft Power Moment
Protocol, April 28, 2021

中国人口“有增无减” 国家统计局欲盖弥彰?(China's population "is only increasing": Is National Bureau of Statistics covering up the truth?)
Voice of America, April 29, 2021

为配合百年党庆宣传 禁完网络论坛再禁脱口秀(On eve of 100th anniv. of founding of CPC, authorities ban online forums, talk shows)
Radio Free Asia, April 29, 2021

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Exclusive | China-EU investment deal casts long shadow over Beijing’s vague sanctions against Europeans
South China Morning Post, April 29, 2021

Related:
Germany’s Merkel Presses Chinese Prime Minister on Human Rights
Voice of America, April 28, 2021

Antony Blinken defends Trump-era moves against Chinese media outlets in the US
South China Morning Post, April 29, 2021

欧盟:中俄意图透过疫苗假讯息分裂西方国家(EU: Russia, China use disinformation on vaccines made in West to sow distrust)
Deutsche Welle, April 29, 2021

Related:
Russia, China sow disinformation to undermine trust in Western vaccines: EU
Reuters, April 28, 2021

布林肯:把中国官媒列为外国使团不是封锁 是为让公众了解真相(U.S. Secretary of State: Classifying Chinese official media as foreign missions is aimed at public disclosure, not information control)
Voice of America, April 29, 2021

默克尔促北京恢复人权对话,李克强:不要干涉中国内政(Merkel urges Beijing to resume human rights dialogue Li Keqiang: Do not meddle in China's internal affairs)
Voice of America, April 29, 2021

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

China to fine internet giant Tencent in antitrust blitz: Report
Reuters, April 29, 2021

Related:
Government official working a shift as Meituan courier is featured in new Communist Party documentary
South China Morning Post, April 29, 2021

Fines Aren’t Alibaba’s Problem — Competition Is
China Film Insider, April 28, 2021

‘Dog Biting Dog’: China’s Online Fight Could Further Empower Beijing
中国科技巨头的“狗咬狗”式竞争

The New York Times, April 29, 2021

Hong Kong (香港)

Judges in Hong Kong’s first national security law trial rule that ‘great harm to society’ must be proven to secure terrorism conviction
South China Morning Post, April 29, 2021

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam heaps praise on Beijing-imposed electoral overhaul as she chats with guests on debut TV talk show
South China Morning Post, April 28, 2021

‘Not what I said’: Hong Kong Bar Assoc. chief Paul Harris clarifies security law comments
Hong Kong Free Press, April 29, 2021

【清算教師】視藝教師「vawongsir」被裁專業失德 或成釘牌第三人 教局指諷警暴漫畫為「無理指控」(Accused of professional misconduct, visual arts teacher may become 3rd educator to lose license over protests in 2019)
Stand News, April 29, 2021

12港人案|已回港9人加控妨礙司法公正明早提堂 消息:李宇軒除外 (12 Hong Konger case: 9 returnees to Hong Kong—excluding Andy Li—face additional charges of perverting the course of justice)
Stand News, April 29, 2021

民主黨吳兆康辭任中西區區議員 未交代是否與宣誓有關(Democratic Party member Ng Siu Hong resigns as Central and Western district councilor, unclear if related to oath-taking)
Stand News, April 29, 2021

US sounds alarm over fears of China-style ‘exit bans’ in Hong Kong
Agence France-Presse, April 29, 2021

Commentary (评论)

Beijing’s Crackdown on Human Rights and the Rule of Law in Hong Kong
The National Bureau of Asian Research, April 28, 2021

What a Crackdown Looks Like From Jail
The Atlantic, April 29, 2021