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, April 18, 2014

Culture (文化)

好莱坞大牌北京电影节上意外“开炮”(At Beijing int’l film festival, Hollywood director calls on Chinese film industry to focus on China’s historical controversies)
Deutsche Welle, April 17, 2014
http://dw.de/p/1BkAw

Related:
Oliver Stone slams Chinese film industry at Beijing festival
The Hollywood Reporter, April 16, 2014
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/oliver-stone-slams-chinese-film-697058

Environment (环境)

中国近五分之一耕地污染,南方甚于北方
One-fifth of China’s farmland is polluted, state study finds
The New York Times, April 18, 2014
http://cn.nytimes.com/china/20140418/c18pollute/dual/

As opposition grows, China defends plans for petrochemical plants
Reuters, April 18, 2014
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/18/us-china-petrochemicals-campaign-idUSBREA3H07020140418?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews

Human Rights Defenders (人权卫士)

China sentences anti-corruption activists
Al Jazeera, April 18, 2014
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia-pacific/2014/04/china-sentences-anti-corruption-activists-201441885818751847.html

Related:
Citizen activists on trial 2014: schedule/status and essays
Human Rights in China, April 18, 2014
http://www.hrichina.org/en/citizen-activists-trial-2014-schedulestatus-and-essays

音频:辩护律师称丁家喜无罪 (Audio: lawyer defends Ding Jiaxi’s innocence)
British Broadcasting Corporation, April 18, 2014
http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/multimedia/2014/04/140418_iv_zhang_keke.shtml

“这是一场荒谬的政治审判”(Ding Jiaxi’s lawyer: “This case is a political mockery”)
Deutsche Welle, April 18, 2014
http://dw.de/p/1Bkj8

Information Control (信息控制)

An Internet “Big V” opts for abject contrition
The New York Times, April 17, 2014
http://sinosphere.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/04/17/an-internet-big-v-opts-for-abject-contrition/?_php=true&_type=blogs&partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0

International Relations (Security, Trade and Investment) , 国际关系(安全,贸易和投资)

乌克兰危机虽推动俄中接近 但戒心难消除 (Ukraine crisis draws Russia and China closer, but hard to eliminate distrust)
Voice of America, April 18, 2014
http://www.voachinese.com/content/russia-china-balance-20140418/1896174.html

中国人走进拉美:新伙伴,老问题 (China expands influence in South America: new friends, old problems)
Deutsche Welle, April 18, 2014
http://dw.de/p/1Bkjp

June Fourth (六四)

June 4 museum to open on April 26
RTHK English News, April 18, 2014
http://rthk.hk/rthk/news/englishnews/20140418/news_20140418_56_1000477.htm

Labor (劳工)

Labour disputes in China increase as the workforce shrinks
South China Morning Post, April 18, 2014
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1486398/labour-disputes-china-increase-workforce-shrinks

Yue Yuen strikers vow to continue until benefit contribution deficit paid in full
South China Morning Post, April 18, 2014
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1486399/yue-yuen-strikers-vow-continue-until-benefit-contribution-deficit-paid

Interview with China Labour Bulletin Communication Director on labor unrest
China Central Television, April 17, 2014
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnTe0shzXPw&feature=youtu.be

Land, Property, Housing (土地、财产、房屋)

官员赞强拆人员是当代“最可爱的人”
Official praises eviction workers as “most lovable”
The New York Times, April 17, 2014
http://cn.nytimes.com/china/20140417/c17eviction/dual/

Persons with Disabilities (残疾人)

China finally offers college entrance exam in braille
The Guardian, April 18, 2014
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/18/china-college-entrance-exam-braille

Political and Economic Reform (政治经济改革)

报告称中国信访“信升访降” 吁制定国家信访法 (Report states: written petitions increase, in-person petitioning decreases)
People's Daily, April 18, 2014
http://politics.people.com.cn/n/2014/0418/c1026-24916086.html

Opinion (观点)

Without social mobility, our city can go nowhere
South China Morning Post, April 18, 2014
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1486129/without-social-mobility-our-city-can-go-nowhere

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Corruption (腐败)

China's Xi purging corrupt officials to put own men in place - sources
Reuters, April 16, 2014
in.reuters.com/article/2014/04/16/uk-china-corruption-xi-idINKBN0D20UO20140416

Environment (环境)

China blames France's Veolia for tap water pollution
Reuters, April 16, 2014
www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/16/us-china-water-veolia-idUSBREA3E05P20140416

Hukou (户口)

专家:2/3农业户籍人口不愿转非农 城镇化埋隐患 (Expert: 2/3 of rural hukou holders do not want to switch hukou)
China Net, April 17, 2014
finance.china.com.cn/news/zjsd/20140417/2340531.shtml

Information Control (信息控制)

秦火火被判3年 法院称因认罪态度较好从轻处罚 (Netizen sentenced to three years in online “defamation” case)
China News, April 17, 2014
news.sina.com.cn/c/2014-04-17/094429952954.shtml

Related:
China releases blogger on bail, jails another amid rumor crackdown
Reuters, April 16, 2014
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/17/us-china-blogger-idUSBREA3G04A20140417?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews

International Relations (Security, Trade and Investment) 国际关系(安全,贸易和投资)

F.B.I. video warns of efforts to recruit American students as spies
FBI警告美国青年别被中国政府利用
The New York Times, April 16, 2014
cn.nytimes.com/usa/20140416/c16shriver/dual/

报告:朝鲜贩毒 中国最受害 (Report: North Korea's drug trade affects China the most)
Voice of America, April 16, 2014
www.voachinese.com/content/article/1895082.html

Related:
Illicit: North Korea’s evolving operations to earn hard currency
The Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, April 15, 2014
www.hrnk.org/events/announcements-view.php?id=15

June Fourth (六四)

香港一栋商业楼宇的法人代表称将通过司法程序阻止“六四纪念馆”的开馆 (HK building owners seek court ruling to stall opening of June Fourth Memorial Museum)
Radio Free Asia, April 16, 2014
www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/sd-04162014102445.html

Related:
The Tiananmen Square Museum China doesn’t want to see
The Wall Street Journal, April 17, 2014
http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2014/04/17/the-tiananmen-square-museum-china-doesnt-want-to-see/?mod=chinablog

Tiananmen exile dies as 25th anniversary nears
The Telegraph, April 17, 2014
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/10771709/Tiananmen-exile-dies-as-25th-anniversary-nears.html

Labor (劳工)

China's workforce: smaller, more savvy, more restive
Reuters, April 16, 2014
www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/16/china-labour-idUSL3N0N71LM20140416

Media (媒体)

Scooped: crowd-funding is improving journalism
The Economist, April 19, 2014
http://www.economist.com/news/china/21601010-crowd-funding-improving-journalism-scooped?fsrc=rss

Political and Economic Reform (政治经济改革)

China is advancing Hu Yaobang reforms: State media
Zee News, April 16, 2014
zeenews.india.com/news/world/china-is-advancing-hu-yaobang-reforms-state-media_924916.html

Special Report: China: building the dream
The Economist, April 17, 2014
http://www.economist.com/news/special-report/21600797-2030-chinese-cities-will-be-home-about-1-billion-people-getting-urban-china-work

全国人大2014年度立法计划公布:将制定网络安全法 (NPC announces plan to draft new Internet safety law in 2014)
CRI Online, April 17, 2014
http://roll.sohu.com/20140417/n398419124.shtml