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 04, 2022

Xinjiang (新疆)

New Xinjiang party chief pledges to follow President Xi Jinping’s policy on the sensitive region
South China Morning Post, December 27, 2021

Access to Justice (司法公正)

One Free Press Coalition spotlights rising imprisonment of journalists in China
Deustche Welle, January 3, 2022

CHRISTMAS AS USUAL: CCP DETAINS HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS
China Digital Times, December 30, 2021

Concerns grow for health of rights lawyer, dissident detained in Xiamen crackdown
Radio Free Asia, December 27, 2021

Counterterrorism (反恐)

Confronting China’s International Counterterror Regime: Pay Attention to the SCO
The Diplomat, December 28, 2021

Government Accountability (政府问责)

新冠溯源:从自然来源论向实验室泄露论的转折是如何完成的?(Covid-19 origin probe: From nature to laboratory leaks)
Radio France Internationale, January 3, 2022

Even in secret, China’s leaders speak in code
The Economist, January 1, 2022

The Chinese Communist Party’s Big Year
Foreign Policy, December 28, 2021

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

美媒:中国网监触角伸向国外 用数据分析工具压制网上异见声音(U.S. media: Chinese Internet surveillance tentacles reach abroad, using data analysis tools to suppress online dissent)
Voice of America, January 1, 2022

Related:
China harvests masses of data on Western targets, documents show
The Washington Post, December 31, 2021

年终报道:中国是全球新冠虚假信息攻势的领头者(Year-end summary: China is frontrunner of global Covid-19 disinformation offensive)
Voice of America, December 31, 2021

China’s cybersecurity watchdog unveils two-month campaign to stamp out social media manipulation as part of industry crackdown
South China Morning Post, December 24, 2021

2022 Beijing Winter Olympics (2022北京冬奥)

What Is the I.O.C. Doing About Forced Labour in China? It Won't Say.
The New York Times, January 4, 2022

Global Imams Council prohibits Muslims from competing in, attending Beijing Winter Olympics
Armenian News-NEWS.am, January 3, 2022

Related:
GIC STATEMENT ON THE 2022 WINTER OLYMPICS
The Global Imams Council, December 30, 2021

全球伊玛目理事会发声明抵制北京冬奥 (Global Imams Council issue statement on boycotting Beijing Winter Olympics)
Deutsche Welle, January 2, 2022

Human Rights Watch Germany asks IOC chief Bach to resign
Netherlandsnewslive.com, January 3, 2022

Tory peer to lead boycott of Coca-Cola over role in Beijing Winter Olympics
The Guardian, January 2, 2022

Japan says ‘no plans’ for gov’t officials to attend Beijing Olympics, calls on China to respect human rights
Agence France-Presse, December 24, 2021

Hong Kong (香港)

Tiananmen vigil: Hong Kong activist jailed for 10 extra months following second incitement conviction over banned June 4 gatherings
South China Morning Post, January 4, 2022

Related:
煽惑六四集結罪成 鄒幸彤:無論法庭如何審判我的文字 都不是停止寫作的理由 (Chow Hang-tung, convicted of inciting June Fourth assembly: How the court judges my words is not a reason to stop writing)
Inmedia.hk, January 4, 2022

Stand News closes, content deleted following arrests and police raid; Chief Sec. slams ‘evil elements’
Hong Kong Free Press, December 29, 2021

Related:
Hong Kong police chief says more Stand News arrests possible
South China Morning Post, January 1, 2022

早報:《立場新聞》鍾沛權和林紹桐申請保釋被拒,何韻詩等四人獲保釋(Stand News senior staffs Chung Pui-kuen and Patrick Lam are denied bail, four former board members are granted bail)
Initium Media, December 31, 2021

《立場》英國分社停運 楊天帥辭任分社主任(Stand News UK branch halts operations; UK officer Yeung Tin Shui resigns)
inmedia.hk, December 30, 2021

《立場新聞》已移除網站及社交專頁內容(Stand News removes all website and social media content)
Radio Television Hong Kong, December 30, 2021

Hong Kong’s Citizen News to close citing fears for staff safety
The Guardian, January 3, 2022

Related:
《眾新聞》宣布後日停運:身在風眼,須確保船上人平安 (Citizen News announces suspension Jan 4: In the eye of the storm, we must ensure safety of people on board)
inmedia.hk, January 2, 2022

How Beijing Has Muted Hong Kong's Independent Media
The New York Times, January 3, 2022

Hong Kong's Lam: Media closures unrelated to press freedom
The Washington Post, January 4, 2022

Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai and ex-Apple Daily journalists face additional charge over ‘seditious publications’
Hong Kong Free Press, December 28, 2021

Hong Kong protests: 5 convicted of rioting, resisting police during clashes on National Day in 2019
South China Morning Post, December 31, 2021

Lawmakers in Hong Kong new ‘patriots-only’ legislature sworn in by Chief Executive Carrie Lam
Hong Kong Free Press, January 3, 2022

New rule kicks in for Hong Kong schools to hold regular flag-raising ceremonies, some campuses seek training help from police
South China Morning Post, January 3, 2022

Pro-Beijing teachers’ group in Hong Kong granted vacant school premises to set up centre for patriotic, national education
South China Morning Post, December 28, 2021

Commentary (评论)

煽動苛法無邊 傳媒岌岌可危 (Boundless harsh incitement laws pose imminent danger to media)
Ming Pao, January 4, 2022

2021年香港回顾:那些年让港人耳熟能詳的人、物、事 (2021 Hong Kong in Review: People and things once familiar to the Hong Kong people)
BBC, December 31, 2021

Speed of Stand News shutdown sends chilling signal to Hong Kong’s media
The Guardian, December 29, 2021

Related:
Hong Kong: Downward spiral for press freedom continues after arrests
Amnesty International, December 29, 2021

In 2022, The World Must Hold China to Account for Genocide
The Diplomat, December 31, 2021

【网络文摘】方方亲笔撰文:我为什么不发声了[Fang Fang: Why I don't speak out anymore)
Radio France Internationale, December 31, 2021

Why So Many Democracies Are Floundering
民主国家面临的最大困境是什么?

The New York Times, December 30, 2021