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.

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Access to Justice (司法公正)

China probes another top rights lawyer for “subversion”
Radio Free Asia, August 25, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/china-probes-another-top-rights-lawyer-for-subversion-08252015110314.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

China considers landmark law to protect victims of domestic violence including restraining orders
South China Morning Post, August 25, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1852512/mainland-china-may-pass-first-law-protecting-victims

China: legal ordeals for brothers of a journalist
The New York Times, August 25, 2015
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/26/world/asia/china-legal-ordeals-for-brothers-of-a-journalist.html

Echoes of Mao as China’s Xi prepares to pardon prisoners
The Wall Street Journal, August 25, 2015
http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2015/08/25/echoes-of-mao-as-chinas-xi-prepares-to-pardon-prisoners/

Access to Information (信息公开)

Chinese authorities force Tibetan literary website offline
Radio Free Asia, August 25, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/chinese-authorities-force-tibetan-literary-website-offline-08252015152643.html

Minitrue: delete articles on stock market slide
China Digital Times, August 25, 2015
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2015/08/minitrue-delete-articles-stock-market-slide/

Related:
China’s party-run media is silent on market mayhem
The New York Times, August 25, 2015
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/26/world/asia/chinese-news-media-largely-silent-amid-stock-market-turmoil.html

Black Monday and Tumble Tuesday: How China reacted
British Broadcasting Corporation, August 25, 2015
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-34048486

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

A statement concerning the detention of lawyer Wang Yu by the parents of the Jiangxi sexual abuse of young girls’ case
江西幼女性侵案当事家长关于王宇律师的声明
Radio Free Asia, August 24, 2015
EN: http://www.chrlawyers.hk/en/content/statement-concerning-detention-lawyer-wang-yu-parents-jiangxi-sexual-abuse-young-girls%E2%80%99-case
CH: http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/Xinwen/JYXW-08242015114343.html

China on high alert, detains critics, protesters ahead of war parade
Radio Free Asia, August 25, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/alert-08252015110153.html

Hong Kong groups urge release of China’s detained lawyers in postcard campaign
Hong Kong Free Press, August 26, 2015
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2015/08/26/hong-kong-groups-urge-release-of-chinas-detained-lawyers-in-postcard-campaign/

Related:
香港多团体游行寄明信片呼吁释放被捕律师 (Hong Kong groups hold “Mail Postcards to Urge Release of Detained Lawyers” protest march)
Radio Free Asia, August 25, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/gangtai/xl1-08252015113016.html

Government Accountability (政府问责)

中国五家国有房企将回购天津爆炸事故受损房屋 (China’s 5 state-owned enterprises to repurchase homes damaged in Tianjin explosion)
Reuters, August 26, 2015
http://cn.reuters.com/article/2015/08/26/china-blast-property-idCNKCS0QV05F20150826

Air quality rule changes put heat on local authorities
South China Morning Post, August 26, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/1852516/air-quality-rule-changes-put-heat-local-authorities

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

VPN down: China goes after Astrill, other anti-censorship apps in run up to WW2 anniversary parade
South China Morning Post, August 26, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/tech/apps-gaming/article/1852658/vpn-down-china-goes-after-astrill-other-anti-censorship-apps-run

Hong Kong (香港)

Three Hong Kong protesters jailed using metal barrier to charge doors of Legco building
South China Morning Post, August 25, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1852563/hong-kong-protesters-handed-jail-time-using-metal-barrier

HKU sets September deadline for decision on appointment of controversial academic
South China Morning Post, August 26, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/1852576/hku-sets-september-deadline-decision-appointment

National Security & Counterterrorism (国家安全和反恐)

China mulls banning “terrorist” clothing
UCA News, August 25, 2015
http://www.ucanews.com/news/china-mulls-banning-terrorist-clothing/74146

China vows to continue grip on Tibet
The Age, August 25, 2015
http://www.theage.com.au/world/china-vows-to-continue-grip-on-tibet-20150826-gj857m.html

Related:
习近平:治藏方略着眼反分裂和稳藏 (Xi Jinping: Tibet strategy aimed at anti-separatism and stability)
Voice of America, August 26, 2015
http://www.voachinese.com/content/xi-jinping-tibet-20150825/2932637.html

Opinion and Editorial (观点和社论)

Political risks may foil economic reform in China
The New York Times, August 25, 2015
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/26/business/economy/chinese-economy-faces-risks-from-political-instability.html

天津大爆炸突显中国增长失控 (Tianjin explosion highlights China’s out-of-control growth)
The New York Times, August 26, 2015
http://cn.nytimes.com/op-ed/20150826/c26iht-edshu/

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Access to Justice (司法公正)

中国维权律师大抓捕:已有九人被指控危害国家安全 (Crackdown on Chinese human rights lawyers: nine are accused of endangering state security )
Canyu, August 25, 2015
http://canyu.org/n101805c6.aspx

律师不准会见基督徒戈平 同案三人羁押地点仍不明 (Lawyers not permitted to meet Christian Ge Ping, detention location of all three in same case still unknown)
Radio Free Asia, August 24, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/yf1-08242015115137.html

Human rights lawyer prevented from flying out of Beijing
中国维权律师被禁止出国
The New York Times, August 24, 2015
http://cn.nytimes.com/china/20150825/c25sino-lawyer/dual/

律师就大抓捕再申请信息公开 会见当事人仍阻碍重重 (Lawyer Yu Wensheng again submits Open Government Information request about mass crackdown, Lawyer-client meetings are still obstructed)
Radio Free Asia, August 24, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/xl1-08242015113819.html

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

Mainland China finally considering reclassifying sex with underage prostitutes as rape after pressure from activists
South China Morning Post, August 24, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1852295/mainland-china-may-reclassify-sex-underage-prostitutes

Related:
China's first draft law on domestic violence reviewed
China Daily, August 25, 2015
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2015-08/25/content_21693576.htm

全国人大常委会今召开16次会 反家暴法初亮相 (16th NPC Standing Committee meeting held today, will review China's first draft law on domestic violence)
Xinhua, August 24, 2015
http://www.nmg.xinhuanet.com/xwzx/jrjj/2015-08/24/c_1116351949.htm

中国为纪念抗战胜利将特赦刑事罪犯 (China to commemorate war victory by giving amnesty to criminal offenders)
British Broadcasting Corporation, August 24, 2015
http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/china/2015/08/150824_china_amnesty_criminals

Related:
"人大常委会会议审议关于特赦部分服刑罪犯的决定草案
NPC SC deliberates draft decision to grant amnesty for a portion of prisoners currently serving sentences
Xinhua (Accessible at Ifeng.com), August 25, 2015
http://news.ifeng.com/a/20150825/44513731_0.shtml

特赦!时隔四十年,全国人大常委会再次启动!
Amnesty! NPC Standing Committee Reactivates it after 40 hiatus!
China Youth Online, August 25, 2015
http://news.cyol.com/content/2015-08/24/content_11570611.htm

Access to Information (信息公开)

Minitrue: don’t rain on our military parade
China Digital Times, August 24, 2015
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2015/08/beijing-shuts-commemoration-parade-rehearsal/

What caused “Black Monday”? The answer’s blocked in China.
Foreign Policy, August 24, 2015
http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/08/24/china-black-monday-stock-markets-global-censorship-media/

Related:
China censoring Black Monday on country’s biggest search engine, Baidu, stopping citizens looking for information about financial chaos
The Independent, August 24, 2015
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/china-censoring-black-monday-on-countrys-biggest-search-engine-baidu-stopping-citizens-looking-for-information-about-financial-chaos-10469850.html

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

广州两民主人士被押两年多从未放风 (Two Guangzhou democracy activists—Guo Feixiong and Liu Yuandong— not allowed outside in over 2 years of detention)
Voice of America, August 24, 2015
http://www.voachinese.com/content/voa-news-hk-mistreament-of-rights-20150824/2930063.html

Government Accountability (政府问责)

China's Black Monday comes amid much deeper economic pessimism: analysts
Radio Free Asia, August 24, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/economy-08242015105234.html

In nature’s name
NewsChina Magazine, August, 2015
http://www.newschinamag.com/magazine/in-natures-name#id:2324#date:17:12

Opinion and Editorial (观点和社论)

Celebrating an anti-Fascist victory or a Fascist victory?
China Change, August 24, 2015
http://chinachange.org/2015/08/24/celebrating-an-anti-fascist-victory-or-a-fascist-victory/

China must be pressed to end torture by police
Washington Post, August 24, 2015
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/china-must-be-pressed-to-end-torture-by-police/2015/08/21/faace9de-0fb7-11e5-adec-e82f8395c032_story.html

Monday, August 24, 2015

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Activist Guo Feixiong held 743 days without yard time
China Change, August 21, 2015
http://chinachange.org/2015/08/21/activist-guo-feixiong-held-743-days-without-yard-time/

中国打压维权律师人数升至276 (Number of lawyers affected in China’s crackdown reaches 276)
Voice of America, August 24, 2015
http://www.voachinese.com/content/china-lawyer-20150821/2927493.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

全国人大法律委员会关于《中华人民共和国刑法修正案(九)(草案)》审议结果报告 (NPC Law Committee report on the public consultation results of draft China Criminal Law Amendment (9) )
Legal Daily, August 24, 2015
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/index_article/content/2015-08/24/content_6235917.htm

Access to Information (信息公开)

China to unblock Facebook and Twitter during World Championships in Athletics
Hong Kong Free Press, August 21, 2015
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2015/08/21/china-to-unblock-facebook-and-twitter-during-world-championships-in-athletics/

China indicts dozens of journalists, media companies for “extortion”
21世纪传媒30人被公诉涉案金额逾亿元
Radio Free Asia, August 21, 2015
EN: http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/extortion-08212015111154.html
CH: http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/meiti/ql2-08212015110752.html

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Netizens think official explanations for Tianjin's dead fish are as likely as fish drowning
Global Voices, August 21, 2015
http://globalvoicesonline.org/2015/08/21/chinese-netizens-slam-official-explanations-for-tianjins-dead-fish-after-explosions/

Related:
China says mass fish deaths unrelated to Tianjin blasts
Al Jazeera, August 21, 2015
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/08/china-mass-fish-deaths-tianjin-blasts-150821155203669.html

劳工维权人士张治儒被调查 劳工NGO或成当局“眼中钉” (Head of Labor rights NGO Zhang Zhiru investigated, labor organizations become ”thorns in the side” of authorities)
Radio Free Asia, August 21, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/yf1-08212015115513.html

Beijing turns into Forbidden City as war anniversary clampdown widens
The Wall Street Journal, August 21, 2015
http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2015/08/21/beijing-turns-into-forbidden-city-as-war-anniversary-clampdown-widens/

Related:
律师接连被阻出境 阅兵将至北京银弹维稳 (Lawyer restricted from leaving the country, as parade approaches, Beijing uses “silver bullet” of social stability maintenance
Radio Free Asia, August 21, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/yf1-08212015115513.html

Government Accountability (政府问责)

天津爆炸:政府计划以市价回购受损房屋 (Tianjin explosion: Government plans to repurchase damaged homes at market value)
British Broadcasting Corporation, August 22, 2015
http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/china/2015/08/150822_tianjin_blast_compensation

Related:
Tianjin blast: Shock turns to anger and distrust after massive explosions
The Age, August 21, 2015
http://www.theage.com.au/world/tianjin-blast-shock-turns-to-anger-and-distrust-after-massive-explosions-20150821-gj4eoz.html

Another factory explosion rocks China. Another case of corruption exposed?
Christian Science Monitor, August 22, 2015
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Global-News/2015/0822/Another-factory-explosion-rocks-China.-Another-case-of-corruption-exposed

Sons of top Chinese officials “used family links to cash in”
South China Morning Post, August 23, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1851783/sons-top-chinese-officials-used-family-links-cash

China expels brother of former senior official from Communist Party over graft
Reuters, August 21, 2015
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/21/us-china-corruption-idUSKCN0QQ0F420150821

Related:
中纪委:令计划之兄令政策被“双开”(Central Commission for Discipline Inspection: Ling Jihua and brother Ling Zhengce “doubly expelled”
British Broadcasting Corporation, August 21, 2015
http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/china/2015/08/150821_china_li_zhengce

No promotion for slackers on reform agenda, China's state media tells Communist Party cadres
South China Morning Post, August 21, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1851605/no-promotion-slackers-reform-agenda-chinas-state-media

Opinion and Editorial (观点和社论)

Why Beijing's liaison office in Hong Kong needs to be more transparent
South China Morning Post, August 24, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1851942/city-beat-why-beijings-liaison-office-hong-kong-needs-be

Massive Tianjin blast highlights flaws in China’s governance model
Foreign Policy, August 19, 2015
http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/08/19/china-tianjin-explosion-corruption-civil-society/

China's flawed corruption crusade: How the Tianjin disaster was the latest consequence of a system that places profit before public safety
The Independent, August 22, 2015
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/corruption-in-china-the-tianjin-explosion-offers-a-glimpse-of-how-the-country-really-works-10466255.html

China the great host, atrocities are ignored
IOL, August 24, 2015
http://www.iol.co.za/sport/china-the-great-host-atrocities-are-ignored-1.1904672#.Vdtw6iVVhHw

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