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, December 18, 2015

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Four held in criminal detention after Beijing rights lawyer's trial
声援浦志强四公民被刑事拘留
Radio Free Asia, December 17, 2015
EN: http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/trial-12172015122917.html
CH: http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/yf1-12172015095826.html

Related:
Pu Zhiqiang Trial: Photos of supporters outside Beijing Municipal No. 2 Intermediate People’s Court
浦志强案开庭:北京第二中级法院外声援浦志强的照片
Human Rights in China, December 14, 2015
EN:http://www.hrichina.org/en/citizens-square/pu-zhiqiang-trial-photos-supporters-outside-beijing-municipal-no-2-intermediate
CH:http://www.hrichina.org/chs/gong-min-yan-chang/pu-zhi-qiang-kai-ting-bei-jing-di-er-zhong-ji-fa-yuan-wai-sheng-yuan-pu-zhi-qiang

Access to Information (信息公开)

Pu Zhiqiang: Guilty in the court of “50 cent” opinion
China Digital Times, December 16, 2015
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2015/12/189287/

Anti-Wikipedian translation at China’s Internet conference
The Wall Street Journal, December 17, 2015
http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2015/12/17/anti-wikipedian-translation-at-chinas-internet-conference/

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Factory workers hurt in 2014 blast protest over payout plan
Caixin, December 17, 2015
http://english.caixin.com/2015-12-17/100889621.html

前学运领袖周勇军月初提前出狱 (Former 1989 Democracy Movement student leader Zhou Yongjun released early from prison)
Radio France Internationale, December 18, 2015
http://cn.rfi.fr/中国/20151218-前学运领袖周勇军月初提前出狱

Government Accountability (政府问责)

China says graft fugitives abroad abuse system to prolong cases
South China Morning Post, December 17, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1892403/china-says-graft-fugitives-abroad-abuse-system-prolong

Fosun disappearance stokes fear among China CEOs
Hong Kong Free Press, December 17, 2015
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2015/12/17/fosun-disappearance-stokes-fear-among-china-ceos/

China, Britain in unusual rights clash after diplomats shoved
Reuters, December 17, 2015
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-britain-rights-idUSKBN0U01ER20151217

China's response to U.N. torture investigation: nothing to see here
The Diplomat, December 17, 2015
http://thediplomat.com/2015/12/chinas-response-to-un-torture-investigation-nothing-to-see-here/

Related:
UN Torture Committee concludes review of china with scathing observations
联合国禁止酷刑委员会对中国严格审议后做出结论性意见
Human Rights in China, December 9, 2015
EN:http://www.hrichina.org/en/press-work/press-release/un-torture-committee-concludes-review-china-scathing-observations
CH: http://www.hrichina.org/chs/xin-wen-gong-zuo/xin-wen-fa-bu/lian-he-guo-jin-zhi-ku-xing-wei-yuan-hui-dui-zhong-guo-yan-ge-shen-yi

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

What are the next big things in the world of high technology? Let China’s internet giants tell you
South China Morning Post, December 18, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1892502/what-are-next-big-things-world-high-technology-let-chinas-internet-giants

China uses velvet glove on iron fist as it goes on the offensive over internet security
South China Morning Post, December 17, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1892376/china-uses-velvet-glove-iron-fist-it-goes-offensive

2015 a pivotal year for China’s cyber armies
The Diplomat, December 17, 2015
http://thediplomat.com/2015/12/2015-a-pivotal-year-for-chinas-cyber-armies/

Chinese President Xi defends national sovereignty online
Deutsche Welle, December 16, 2015
http://www.dw.com/en/chinese-president-xi-defends-national-sovereignty-online/a-18920705

Related:
视频:中国的“网络主权“是什么意思? (Video: What does China’s “cyber sovereignty” mean?)
British Broadcasting Corporation, December 17, 2015
http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/multimedia/2015/12/151217_vid_chinese_internet

Hong Kong (香港)

Hong Kong deal stirs press freedom fears
The Financial Times, December 17, 2015
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/fbdf752a-a4b7-11e5-a91e-162b86790c58.html

Protesters surround Democratic Party lawmaker once again at rally against copyright bill
Hong Kong Free Press, December 17, 2015
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2015/12/17/protesters-surround-democratic-party-lawmaker-once-again-at-rally-against-copyright-bill/

大陆言论罪杀入香港? 遭解雇海关关员拟提司法复核 (Are mainland China’s “speech crimes” invading Hong Kong? Dismissed customs officer to file for judicial review)
Radio Free Asia, December 17, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/gangtai/xl2-12172015100255.html

Opinion and Editorial (观点和社论)

Hong Kong’s controversial copyright law opens the door for mainland-style “lawfare”
Hong Kong Free Press, December 17, 2015
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2015/12/17/hong-kongs-controversial-copyright-law-opens-the-door-for-mainland-style-lawfare/

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Politics, law, and the case against Pu Zhiqiang
China Digital Times, December 16, 2015
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2015/12/189282/

Related:
百人围观浦案遭大抓捕 20人仍在押或失联 (Many of the over 100 citizens trying to observe Pu Zhiqiang's trial taken away by police, 20 still detained or not heard from)
Radio Free Asia, December 16, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/xl1-12162015103320.html

Pu Zhiqiang Trial: Photos of supporters outside Beijing Municipal No. 2 Intermediate People’s Court
Human Rights in China, December 14, 2015
http://www.hrichina.org/en/citizens-square/pu-zhiqiang-trial-photos-supporters-outside-beijing-municipal-no-2-intermediate

Access to Information (信息公开)

China tightens rules on maps amid territorial disputes
Reuters, December 16, 2015
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-maps-idUSKBN0TZ1AR20151216

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Mass layoffs in China’s coal country threaten unrest
The New York Times, December 17, 2015
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/17/world/asia/china-coal-mining-economy.html

Thousands protest, blockade waste plant construction in China's Guangdong
广东数千人游行打砸工地 抗议当局强建垃圾焚烧厂
Radio Free Asia, December 16, 2015
EN: http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/plant-12162015105743.html
CH: http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/huanjing/xl2-12162015103402.html

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Amid China's crackdown, securities reform quietly gathers pace
Bloomberg, December 16, 2015
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-12-16/amid-china-s-crackdown-securities-reform-quietly-gathers-pace

UK criticizes “unacceptable” treatment of diplomats at China trial of human rights lawyer
The Guardian, December 17, 2015
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/17/uk-criticises-unacceptable-treatment-of-diplomats-at-china-trial-of-human-rights-lawyer

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

U.S. and WTO partners announce final agreement on landmark expansion of information technology agreement
Office of the United State Trade Representative, December 2015
https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2015/december/US-WTO-Partners-Announce-Final-Agreement-on-Expansion-ITA

Related:
Joint statement by trade ministers of China and U.S. on the expansion of WTO information technology agreement
Office of the United State Trade Representative, December 2015
https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2015/december/joint-statement-trade-ministers

Global Internet Governance 2.0?
China Media Project, December 16, 2015
http://cmp.hku.hk/2015/12/16/39508/

China touts its Great Firewall in push for Internet control
Wall Street Journal, December 16, 2015
http://www.wsj.com/articles/china-touts-its-great-firewall-in-push-for-internet-control-1450251090

Double standards: China’s push to develop internet for economic gain tempered by strict censorship
South China Morning Post, December 16, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1891841/double-standards-chinas-push-develop-internet-economic

At U.N., China tries to influence fight over Internet control
The New York Times, December 17, 2015
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/17/technology/china-wins-battle-with-un-over-word-in-internet-control-document.html

Related:
强调网络主权 有悖于互联网理念? (Does the emphasis on “cyber sovereignty” contradict the concept of the Internet?)
Deutsche Welle, December 16, 2015
http://www.dw.com/zh/强调网络主权-有悖于互联网理念/a-18921056

Xi, Xiaomi and the censorship game: Foreign visitors at World Internet Conference in China given free smartphones and cheat codes to access blocked websites
South China Morning Post, December 16, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/tech/innovation/article/1891842/xi-xiaomi-and-censorship-game-foreign-visitors-world-internet

Hong Kong (香港)

Fears for Hong Kong's press freedom follow Alibaba's purchase of the South China Morning Post
Global Voices, December 16, 2015
https://globalvoices.org/2015/12/16/fears-for-hong-kongs-press-freedom-follow-alibabas-purchase-of-the-south-china-morning-post/

Related:
Alibaba’s Jack Ma vows to defend South China Morning Post’s independence
The Wall Street Journal, December 15, 2015
http://www.wsj.com/articles/jack-ma-defends-alibaba-purchase-of-south-china-morning-post-1450238220

Groups rally against “Internet Article 23” as lawmakers continue copyright bill debate
Hong Kong Free Press, December 16, 2015
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2015/12/16/groups-rally-against-internet-article-23-as-lawmakers-continue-copyright-bill-debate/

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

Suspect in Xinjiang mine attack spoke of jihad, Chinese news reports say
The New York Times, December 17, 2015
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/17/world/asia/xinjiang-attack-china-terrorism.html

Opinion and Editorial (观点和社论)

Can an Alibaba “Morning Post” aid China’s image overseas?
China File, December 15, 2015
https://www.chinafile.com/conversation/can-alibaba-morning-post-aid-chinas-image-overseas

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Access to Justice (司法公正)

China's plainclothes officers a force against dissent
Associated Press, December 15, 2015
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_CHINA_PLAINCLOTHES_POLITICS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2015-12-15-05-49-52

Related:
中国频为要犯减刑 被指为削减浦案影响 (Are authorities using sentence reduction in major cases to eclipse impact of Pu Zhiqiang prosecution?)
Radio Free Asia, December 15, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/xl1-12152015101200.html

Access to Information (信息公开)

China, Egypt imprison record numbers of journalists
中国、埃及关押新闻工作者人数创记录
Committee to Protect Journalists, December 15, 2015
EN:https://www.cpj.org/reports/2015/12/china-egypt-imprison-record-numbers-of-journalists-jail.php
CH:https://www.cpj.org/reports/prison_census2015-chinese.pdf

The CCP’s “positive energy” obsession
China Media Project, December 15, 2015
http://cmp.hku.hk/2015/12/15/39487/

Chinese military threatens BBC reporter flying over disputed South China Sea islands
The Independent, December 15, 2015
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/chinese-military-threatens-bbc-reporter-flying-over-disputed-south-china-sea-islands-a6773951.html

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Second interview with the Wenzhou pastor: After the demolition comes the “transformations”
China Change, December 15, 2015
http://chinachange.org/2015/12/15/second-interview-with-the-wenzhou-pastor-after-the-demolition-comes-the-transformations/

Government Accountability (政府问责)

中国82岁作家指称警方酷刑折磨 (82-year old Chinese writer claims to have been tortured by police)
Voice of America, December 15, 2015
http://www.voachinese.com/content/voa-news-tie-liu-torture-20151215/3103515.html

Corruption behind accidents deserve harsher penalties: authority
Xinhua, December 15, 2015
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2015-12/15/c_134920095.htm

China military says “pathogen” of corruption persists in ranks
Reuters, December 15, 2015
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-corruption-military-idUSKBN0TZ0F120151216

Northern exposure: China names and shames provinces for fudging GDP
Wall Street Journal, December 15, 2015
http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2015/12/15/northern-exposure-china-names-and-shames-provinces-for-fudging-gdp/

Chinese refugee arrested in Thailand, repatriation feared likely
Radio Free Asia, December 15, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/china-thailand-12152015164024.html

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

世界互联网大会:“保护外企权益 尊重网络主权” (World Internet Conference in China: “Protect foreign corporations’ rights, demand respect for cyber-sovereignty”)
Deutsche Welle, December 16, 2015
http://www.dw.com/zh/世界互联网大会保护外企权益-尊重网络主权/a-18920140

Related:
中国网络管治两极:催谷经济引擎 严控信息流动 (The two poles of China’s Internet governance: Boosting economic engine while blocking information flow)
South China Morning Post, December 16, 2015
http://www.nanzao.com/sc/national/151a9bd61364e56/zhong-guo-wang-luo-guan-zhi-liang-ji-cui-gu-jingji-yin-qing-yan-kong-xin-xi-liu-dong

Xi Defends China's Great Firewall in Push for “Cybersovereignty”
Bloomberg, December 16, 2015
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-12-16/china-s-xi-defends-web-controls-in-call-for-cybersovereignty-

China's 2nd World Internet Conference will focus on “rule of law”, but not free expression
Global Voices, December 15, 2015
https://advox.globalvoices.org/2015/12/15/chinas-2nd-world-internet-conference-will-focus-on-rule-of-law-but-not-free-expression/

Nonprofits want boycott of Chinese Internet summit
The Hill, December 14, 2015
http://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/263112-nonprofits-want-foreigners-to-boycott-chinese-internet-summit

The Chinese didn’t just hack federal employees. Journalists were swept up in the massive breach, too.
The Washington Post, December 14, 2015
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/federal-eye/wp/2015/12/14/the-chinese-didnt-just-hack-federal-employees-journalists-were-swept-up-in-the-massive-breach-too/

Top of the world: 5 facts about China, the web and its global-leading 668 million online users
South China Morning Post, December 16, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/tech/article/1891736/top-world-5-facts-about-china-web-and-its-global-leading-668-million-online