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, August 21, 2015

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Police prevent top Chinese rights attorneys from leaving the country
律师出境受阻再增一人 梁小军机场被拦
Radio Free Asia, August 20, 2015
EN: http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/police-prevent-top-chinese-rights-attorneys-from-leaving-country-08202015095944.html
CH: http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/yf1-08202015104805.html

Related:
Mass suppression of lawyers reveals true nature of Xi’s “rule by law”
对维权律师的大规模镇压揭示了习近平“依法治国”的真实面目
Human Rights in China, July 16, 2015
EN: http://www.hrichina.org/en/mass-crackdown-chinese-lawyers-and-defenders
CH: http://hrichina.org/chs/zhong-guo-da-gui-mo-zhen-ya-wei-quan-lu-shi-he-huo-yue-ren-shi

Beijing court extends detention of top rights lawyer by three months
浦志强案审限再延长3个月
Radio Free Asia, August 20, 2015
EN: http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/extension-08202015131406.html
CH: http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/hc-08202015135814.html

Beijing court to hear suit over texts calling homosexuality an illness
The New York Times, August 20, 2015
http://sinosphere.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/08/20/beijing-court-to-hear-suit-over-texts-calling-homosexuality-an-illness/

Access to Information (信息公开)

Chinese media and the Tianjin disaster
China Media Project, August 20, 2015
http://cmp.hku.hk/2015/08/20/39159/

Disclosure on pollution improves but major gaps remain
China Dialogue, August 20, 2015
https://www.chinadialogue.net/blog/8138-Disclosure-on-pollution-improves-but-major-gaps-remain/en

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Chinese netizens mock global city rankings
British Broadcasting Corporation, August 20, 2015
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-33998626

Uncivil society: A new draft law spooks foreign not-for-profit groups working in China
The Economist, August 22, 2015
http://www.economist.com/news/china/21661819-new-draft-law-spooks-foreign-not-profit-groups-working-china-uncivil-society

Related:
HRIC Law Note: Draft Law on Foreign NGOs Undermines Chinese Civil Society and China’s International Engagement
中国人权法律评论:境外非政府组织管理法草案损害了中国的民间社会和中国政府的国际参与
Human Rights in China, May 21, 2015
EN: http://www.hrichina.org/en/legal-resources/hric-law-note-draft-law-foreign-ngos-undermines-chinese-civil-society-and-chinas
CH: http://www.hrichina.org/chs/zhong-guo-ren-quan-fa-lu-ping-lun-jing-wai-fei-zheng-fu-zu-zhi-guan-li-fa-cao-sun-hai-liao-zhong-guo

War veterans’ protest shuts down part of Guangdong city
Hong Kong Free Press, August 21, 2015
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2015/08/21/war-veterans-protest-shuts-down-part-of-guangdong-city/

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Officials backtrack on refusal to buy flats in Tianjin blast zone
South China Morning Post, August 20, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/1851222/officials-backtrack-refusal-buy-flats-tianjin-blast-zone

Related:
当局承诺“受损房屋需回购的一定回购” (Authorities promise: Damaged homes in need of repurchase will definitely be repurchased)
Deutsche Welle, August 20, 2015
http://bit.ly/1HZbKFg

China's leaders vow to severely punish officials responsible for Tianjin's deadly blasts
South China Morning Post, August 20, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1851223/chinas-leaders-vow-severely-punish-officials

Poisonous connections: The explosions exposed murky links between business and government
The Economist, August 22, 2015
http://www.economist.com/news/china/21661818-explosions-exposed-murky-links-between-business-and-government-poisonous-connections

Chinese authorities investigate mass fish death near Tianjin explosion site
The Guardian, August 21, 2015
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/21/chinese-authorities-investigate-mass-fish-death-near-tianjin-explosion-site

Tianjin explosion erodes faith in leadership for many in China
Wall Street Journal, August 20, 2015
http://www.wsj.com/articles/blast-erodes-faith-in-leadership-for-many-in-china-1440094622

Xi Jinping's reforms encounter “unimaginably fierce resistance”, Chinese state media says in “furious” commentary
South China Morning Post, August 21, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1851314/xi-jinpings-reforms-encountering-fierce-resistance

中纪委立案审查令政策严重违纪 (CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection investigates Ling Zhengce for serious discipline violations)
Radio France Internationale, August 21, 2015
http://rfi.my/1E7Y3sk

How General used his military service to amass fortune
Caixin, August 21, 2015
http://english.caixin.com/2015-08-21/100842193.html

党政干部损害生态环境 追责谁执行?——四问《党政领导干部生态环境损害责任追究办法(试行)(Who investigates when Party and government cadres harm the ecological environment?—4 questions on the “Measures for Investigating Responsibility of Party and Leading Government Cadres for Harm to the Ecological Environment” (trial draft) )
Sichuan Legal News, August 20, 2015
http://dzb.scfzbs.com/shtml/scfzb/20150820/29960.shtml

Related:
党政领导干部生态环境损害责任追究办法(试行)(Measures for Investigating Responsibility of Party and Leading Government Cadres for Harm to the Ecological Environment (trial draft))
General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, August 8, 2015
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2015-08/17/c_1116282540.htm

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

明星受聘公安局?新昌警方:代言通讯诈骗防范 (A movie star hired by police? Xinchang police hire spokesperson to help raise awareness of communications fraud prevention)
Zhejiang Legal News, August 20, 2015
http://zjfzb.zjol.com.cn/html/2015-08/20/content_132011.htm

Chinese hackers target Indian institutions
The Financial Times, August 20, 2015
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/77889fca-4735-11e5-af2f-4d6e0e5eda22.html

Hong Kong (香港)

香港学运领袖被“秋后算账” 美国务院呼吁公平处理 (“Scores settled” for Hong Kong student leaders, U.S. Department of State calls for fair process)
Radio Free Asia, August 20, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/gangtai/xl2-08202015110519.html

Opinion and Editorial (观点和社论)

China’s deadly Tianjin explosions show the limits of Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption drive
Quartz, August 19, 2015
http://qz.com/483736/now-evidence-shows-chinas-tianjin-explosions-are-really-about-corruption/

VOA专访周锋锁 第五部分 (VOA interview with Zhou Fengsuo: Part 5)
Voice of America, August 20, 2015
http://www.voachinese.com/media/video/2925486.html

A Chinese rights revolution reversed?
The Diplomat, August 20, 2015
http://thediplomat.com/2015/08/a-chinese-rights-revolution-reversed/

Thursday, August 20, 2015

Access to Justice (司法公正)

14 cases exemplify the role played by lawyers in the rights defense movement, 2003–2015
China Change, August 19, 2015
http://chinachange.org/2015/08/19/14-cases-exemplify-the-role-played-by-lawyers-in-the-rights-defense-movement-2003-2015/

Access to Information (信息公开)

Tianjin explosions: Journalism stands as official line stumbles
China Digital Times, August 19, 2015
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2015/08/tianjin-explosions-journalism-stands-official-line-stumbles/

Related:
Apology but few answers as Tianjin’s mayor finally addresses media –a week after deadly blasts
South China Morning Post, August 19, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/1850997/apology-few-answers-tianjins-mayor-finally-meets-media

中国社交媒体打破官媒垄断 (Chinese social media break official media monopoly)
Radio Free Asia, August 19, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shehui/xql-08192015113334.html

天津爆炸:联合国专家批当局缺乏透明度 (Tianjin explosion: United Nations experts criticize authorities’ lack of transparency)
British Broadcasting Corporation, August 19, 2015
http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/china/2015/08/150819_tianjin_blast_kindergarten

China jails dissident over Tianjin blast death toll retweet
Radio Free Asia, August 19, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/retweet-08192015135855.html

China can learn from West about briefing public on disasters, admits Communist Party mouthpiece
South China Morning Post, August 19, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/1850788/china-can-learn-west-about-briefing-public-disasters-admits

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Authorities in Tianjin rule out buying back flats damaged in explosions but homeowners standing firm
South China Morning Post, August 19, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/1850768/protests-among-angry-tianjin-homeowners-grow-chinese-government

Related:
天津当局否认回购房再惹民众不满 (Tianjin authorities reject buying back homes, again provoking public dissatisfaction)
Deutsche Welle, August 19, 2015
http://www.dw.com/zh/天津当局否认回购房再惹民众不满/a-18658098

Angry Chinese ask: Why did so many firefighters die in Tianjin explosion?
Washington Post, August 18, 2015
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/angry-chinese-ask-why-did-so-many-firefighters-die-in-tianjin-explosion/2015/08/18/4b14b669-de26-4b47-aa57-b2ea844de25b_story.html

Related:
In China, there is no firefighters’ trade union and it shows
China Labour Bulletin, August 19, 2015
http://www.clb.org.hk/en/content/china-there-no-firefighters%E2%80%99-trade-union-and-it-shows

Four big questions Chinese people want answered following deadly Tianjin blasts
South China Morning Post, August 19, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/1850765/4-big-questions-chinese-people-want-answered-following-deadly

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Chinese report details role of political connections in Tianjin blasts
The New York Times, August 20, 2015
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/20/world/asia/tianjin-china-explosions.html

Related:
China investigates executives, top work safety official after Tianjin explosions
The Diplomat, August 20, 2015
http://thediplomat.com/2015/08/china-investigates-executives-top-work-safety-official-after-tianjin-explosions/

Tianjin blast: more warehouses accused of violating rules on toxic materials
The Guardian, August 19, 2015
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/19/tianjin-blast-more-warehouses-accused-of-violating-rules-on-toxic-materials

China seeks to beat corruption by separating football and politics
Hong Kong Free Press, August 19, 2015
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2015/08/19/china-seeks-to-beat-corruption-by-separating-football-and-politics/

Hong Kong (香港)

HKU head of humanities slams “absurd in the extreme” delay in appointing pro-vice-chancellor
South China Morning Post, August 19, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/1850939/hku-head-humanities-slams-absurd-extreme-delay

Opinion and Editorial (观点和社论)

Tianjin disaster a wake-up call to change business culture in China
South China Morning Post, August 19, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1850785/tianjin-disaster-wake-call-change-business-culture-china

大家谈中国:我该相信谁? (Talk about China: Who should I believe?)
British Broadcasting Corporation, August 19, 2015
http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/comments_on_china/2015/08/150819_coc_i_should_believe_who

VOA专访周锋锁:八九一代遗忘六四可耻 (VOA interview with Zhou Fengsuo: The 1989 generation forgetting June Fourth is shameful)
Voice of America, August 19, 2015
http://www.voachinese.com/content/voa-news-zhou-fengsuo-june4th-20150819/2924188.html

Time for the U.S. to punish China in Cyberspace?
The Diplomat, August 20, 2015
http://thediplomat.com/2015/08/should-the-us-punish-china-in-cyberspace/

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Access to Justice (司法公正)

十二届全国人大常委会第十六次会议24日开始在京举行, 继续审议刑法修正案(九)草案等
16th meeting of 12th NPC Standing Committee to start August 24, Beijing: deliberation of Criminal Law Amendment Bill (9) and other legislation to continue
Legal Daily, August 18, 2015
http://epaper.legaldaily.com.cn/fzrb/content/20150818/Articel01003GN.htm

浦志强案审限已至 律师未收到法院通知 (Trial deadline for Pu Zhiqiang case passes, lawyer yet to receive court notice)
Radio Free Asia, August 18, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/yf1-08182015102308.html

中国多位维权律师及人士被禁出境 (Many Chinese rights defense lawyers and defenders banned from leaving the country)
Voice of America, August 19, 2015
http://www.voachinese.com/content/voa-news-hk-more-chinese-rights-attorneys-20150818/2922178.html

Related:
Mass suppression of lawyers reveals true nature of Xi’s “rule by law”
对维权律师的大规模镇压揭示了习近平“依法治国”的真实面目
Human Rights in China, July 16, 2015
EN: http://www.hrichina.org/en/mass-crackdown-chinese-lawyers-and-defenders
CH: http://hrichina.org/chs/zhong-guo-da-gui-mo-zhen-ya-wei-quan-lu-shi-he-huo-yue-ren-shi

Access to Information (信息公开)

China's official response to emergencies is “censorship”
Deutsche Welle, August 18, 2015
http://www.dw.com/en/chinas-official-response-to-emergencies-is-censorship/a-18656291

Related:
Tianjin lives up to its “city without news” nickname after deadly blasts
Global Voices, August 18, 2015
http://globalvoicesonline.org/2015/08/18/tianjin-lives-up-to-its-city-without-news-nickname-after-deadly-blasts/

U.N. Expert slams China on chemical blast secrecy
Associated Press, August 19, 2015
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/expert-slams-china-chemical-blast-secrecy-33177859

China says thousands arrested for online crime
Al Jazeera, August 19, 2015
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/08/china-thousands-arrested-online-crime-150818192622887.html

Chinese rights websites hit by suspected hacker attack, Great Firewall blockade
六四天网、中国舆论监督网再遭攻击
Radio Free Asia, August 18, 2015
EN: http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/rights-websites-hit-by-suspected-hacker-attack-great-firewall-blockade-08182015111603.html
CH: http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/meiti/ql2-08182015102821.html

Google’s new Internet domain name blocked instantly
中國下手快 Google新域名迅遭屏蔽
Sina, August 12, 2015
http://finance.sina.com/bg/tech/udn/su/20150812/16271314690.html

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

“保持与大方向同步"
Keeping in-step with the overall direction
Beijing Evening News, August 18, 2015
http://www.kaixian.tv/gd/2015/0818/482313.html

Excerpt:

“中国政府高度赞赏境外非政府组织的积极作用,欢迎和支持境外非政府组织来华开展友好交流与合作,将进一步做好境外非政府组织服务管理工作。”日前,外交部、公安部、民政部在上海共同召开非政府组织座谈会,公安部部长郭声琨在会上明确表态。

"The Chinese Government highly appreciates the positive role of foreign NGOs, welcomes and supports foreign NGOs as they come to China and commence friendly exchange and cooperation, and will further advance the management of foreign NGOs," said Guo Shengkun, Minister of Public Security, yesterday in Shanghai at a joint discussion on foreign NGOs by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Public Security Ministry, and the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

Behind China's slowdown, signs of labor unrest
CBS Money Watch, August 18, 2015
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/behind-chinas-slowdown-signs-of-labor-unrest/

Chinese police beat Tibetan women, elderly over dam protest
Radio Free Asia, August 18, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/protest-08182015165252.html

Government Accountability (政府问责)

时事大家谈:天津大爆炸,政府严控信息,民众追问真相 (“Let’s Talk Current Affairs”: Tianjin explosion, government control of information, public questioning the truth)
Voice of America, August 19, 2015
http://www.voachinese.com/content/voa-voaio-tianjin-explosion-20150818/2922667.html

Xinhua says China blast warehouse did not have proper licence
Channel News Asia, August 18, 2015
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/xinhua-says-china-blast-w/2057854.html

Related:
State media: China firm used connections for hazmat permit
The Wall Street Journal, August 19, 2015
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/state-media-china-firm-used-connections-for-hazmat-permit/2015/08/19/9f47c116-4641-11e5-9f53-d1e3ddfd0cda_story.html

Mounting questions over deadly Tianjin blast prove biggest test of Xi Jinping's leadership
South China Morning Post, August 19, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/1850627/mounting-questions-prove-test-leadership

China's work safety chief detained for alleged graft in midst of Tianjin blast fallout
传杨栋梁之子被带走调查 董培军与津门首虎武长顺交好
South China Morning Post, August 18, 2015
EN: http://www.scmp.com/news/article/1850699/chinas-work-safety-chief-detained-alleged-graft-midst-tianjin-blast-fallout
CH: http://www.nanzao.com/sc/national/14f43af74d783ae/chuan-8-12-jin-yang-dong-liang-la-ma-qi-ji-dong-pei-jun-yu-jin-men-shou-hu-wu-chang-shun-jiao-hao

Former vice governor stands trial for bribery
China Daily, August 18, 2015
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2015-08/18/content_21637222.htm

Hong Kong (香港)

Student protesters who pre-empted Occupy Central face justice–11 months on
South China Morning Post, August 19, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1850653/student-protesters-face-justice-11-months

Student activists charged a year after protesting at gov’t headquarters
Hong Kong Free Press, August 18, 2015
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2015/08/18/student-activists-charged-a-year-after-protesting-at-govt-headquarters/

Opinion and Editorial (观点和社论)

The politics of senseless tragedy
Medium, August 17, 2015
https://medium.com/@cmphku/the-politics-of-senseless-tragedy-12cc9230fa4

China’s disaster playbook falls short in Tianjin blasts
Hong Kong Free Press, August 19, 2015
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2015/08/18/chinas-disaster-playbook-falls-short-in-tianjin-blasts/

Lessons from Tianjin
The Wall Street Journal, August 18, 2015
http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2015/08/19/lessons-from-tianjin/

Is the pressure being put on the University of Hong Kong payback for being a political troublemaker?
South China Morning, August 19, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1850749/pressure-being-put-university-hong-kong-payback-being

Musings on Supreme People’s Court Vice President Xi Xiaoming
Supreme People’s Court Monitor, August 19, 2015
http://supremepeoplescourtmonitor.com/2015/08/19/musings-on-supreme-peoples-court-vice-president-xi-xiaoming/

“打孩子会犯法”应成为社会常识
“Hitting children is a crime” should become common knowledge
China Education News Online, August 19, 2015
Available at: http://www.jyb.cn/opinion/pgypl/201508/t20150819_634279.html

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Access to Justice (司法公正)

湖南律师蔡瑛长沙出境被阻止 (Hunan lawyer Cai Ying blocked from leaving China)
Radio Free Asia, August 17, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/ql1-08172015095238.html

Related:
Mass suppression of lawyers reveals true nature of Xi’s “rule by law”
对维权律师的大规模镇压揭示了习近平“依法治国”的真实面目
Human Rights in China, July 16, 2015
EN: http://www.hrichina.org/en/mass-crackdown-chinese-lawyers-and-defenders
CH: http://hrichina.org/chs/zhong-guo-da-gui-mo-zhen-ya-wei-quan-lu-shi-he-huo-yue-ren-shi