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.

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Access to Information (信息公开)

China to ban foreign companies from online media business
Radio Free Asia, February 17, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/china-to-ban-foreign-companies-from-online-media-business-02172016113408.html

Free speech in China gets an unlikely state-media backer
The Wall Street Journal, February 17, 2016
http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2016/02/17/free-speech-in-china-gets-an-unlikely-state-media-backer/

全国96%以上法院开通举报网站, 去年法院受理网络举报37967件 (Over 96% of courts nationwide have opened websites for reporting complaints, with 37,967 complaints received online last year)
Legal Daily, February 17, 2016
http://epaper.legaldaily.com.cn/fzrb/content/20160217/Articel01007GN.htm

河南法院去年收案106万件 (Henan's courts accepted 1.06 million cases last year)
Legal Daily, February 17, 2016
http://epaper.legaldaily.com.cn/fzrb/content/20160217/Articel03003GN.htm

Government Accountability (政府问责)

From trying to leap out windows to fainting with fear...how Chinese corruption suspects react when inspectors call
South China Morning Post, February 17, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1913793/trying-leap-out-windows-fainting-fear-how-chinese

公安部公安改革将有六大突破 (Public Security Bureau's reforms will achieve 6 major breakthroughs in 2016
Legal Daily, February 17, 2016
http://epaper.legaldaily.com.cn/fzrb/content/20160217/Articel03001GN.htm

“刘晓波广场”? 北京盛怒 白宫否决 (Senate bill for naming “Liu Xiaobo Plaza” enrages Beijing, White House to veto it)
Deutsche Welle, February 17, 2016
http://www.dw.com/zh/刘晓波广场-北京盛怒-白宫否决/a-19052572

德国支援受迫害族群协会发表声明驳斥中国政府对多利坤的污蔑 (German Society for Threatened Peoples issues statement refuting Chinese government’s vilification of Uyghur rights leader Dolkan)
Radio Free Asia, February 17, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shaoshuminzu/gr-02172016105046.html

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

Apple Pay to be available in China from this week
British Broadcasting Corporation, February 18, 2016
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-35601110

网站发帖扰乱社会秩序; 一男子发布虚假信息被行政拘留 (Online post disturbs social order: Man is administratively detained for posting “false” information)
Legal Daily, February 17, 2016
http://epaper.legaldaily.com.cn/fzrb/content/20160217/Articel08003GN.htm

Hong Kong (香港)

From Occupy to ballot box: new Scholarism party could end up clashing with old guard democrats in Legco elections
South China Morning Post, February 17, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1913732/occupy-ballot-box-new-scholarism-party-could-end-clashing

People’s Daily targets Scholarism and Civic Party for “supporting” Mong Kok “rioters”
Hong Kong Free Press, February 16, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/02/16/peoples-daily-calls-out-scholarism-and-civic-party-for-supporting-rioters-of-the-mong-kok-unrest/

China preparing to charge Hong Kong bookseller Lee Bo with blackmail—report
The Guardian, February 17, 2016
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/17/china-preparing-to-charge-hong-kong-bookseller-lee-bo-with-blackmail-report

International publishers urge Chief Executive to take action on missing booksellers
Hong Kong Free Press, February 18, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/02/18/international-publishers-urge-chief-executive-take-action-missing-booksellers/

香港特区立法会保安委会: 严厉谴责暴力袭击执法人员和记者 (LegCo Security Panel sternly denounces violent attacks on law enforcement and journalists)
Legal Daily, February 17, 2016
http://epaper.legaldaily.com.cn/fzrb/content/20160217/Articel01010GN.htm

经济学人指“鱼蛋革命”乃对政府不满北京需正视 (The Economist: “Fishball Revolution” stems from discontent towards government, Beijing should face it squarely)
Radio France Internationale, February 16, 2016
http://cn.rfi.fr/中国/20160216-经济学人指“鱼蛋革命”乃对政府不满北京需正视

Opinion and Editorial (观点和社论)

Riots have reasons
Tim's Experiment: Thoughts of an old China Hamlett, February 17, 2016
http://timhamlett.com/

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Access to Justice (司法公正)

我国深化社区矫正改革取得重要成果, 社区服刑人员矫正期间再犯罪率0.2% (China's deepening reform of community corrections achieves significant results, recidivism among those serving community corrections sentences at 0.2%)
Legal Daily, February 15, 2016
http://epaper.legaldaily.com.cn/fzrb/content/20160215/Articel01007GN.htm

超期提出执行异议法院不受理 (Courts not to accept late protests at enforcement)
Legal Daily, February 15, 2016
http://epaper.legaldaily.com.cn/fzrb/content/20160215/Articel03005GN.htm

定西临洮开庭审理首例精神病人强制医疗案 (Dingxi City's Lintao Prefecture holds first trial of a person with mental illness for compulsory medical treatment)
Lanzhou Morning News, February 16, 2016
http://gansu.gscn.com.cn/system/2016/02/16/011261549.shtml

China must release detained activists, rights lawyers: UN
Agence France-Presse, February 16, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/02/16/china-must-release-detained-activists-rights-lawyers-un/

Related:
UN Human Rights Chief deeply concerned by China clampdown on lawyers and activists
人权高专对中国压制律师和人权活动人士表达关切
United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner, February 16, 2016
EN: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=53242#.VsQQqbR96Ul
CH: http://www.un.org/chinese/News/story.asp?newsID=25662

中国回应联合国批评:称李波不希望受到高度关注 (China’s response to UN’s criticism: Lee Bo does not wish to receive strong attention)
British Broadcasting Corporation, February 17, 2016
http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/world/2016/02/160217_china_un_right_reax

Mass Crackdown on Chinese Lawyers and Defenders
中国大规模镇压维权律师和活跃人士
Human Rights in China, February 5, 2016
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)

南昌重大行政执法决定上网公布; 公开行政处罚信息 (Nanchang to publish major administrative enforcement decisions online; public disclosure of administrative punishments information)
Jiangxi News Online, February 16, 2016
http://jx.ifeng.com/news/sz/detail_2016_02/16/4765963_0.shtml

New China regulation seeks to tighten control over “creative works” published online
South China Morning Post, February 15, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/tech/article/1913342/new-china-regulation-seeks-tighten-control-over-creative-works-published-online

Chinese writer says he’s forbidden from traveling to U.S. for Harvard prize
记者杨继绳被禁止赴美领奖,曾撰书记录大饥荒
The New York Times, February 16, 2016
EN: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/17/world/asia/yang-jisheng-tombstone-harvard.html
CH: http://cn.nytimes.com/china/20160217/c17china/

Government Accountability (政府问责)

中国对美参议院以刘晓波名更改中国使馆街道名议案表达愤怒 (China furious over U.S. Senate bill to name the plaza where Chinese embassy is situated as “Liu Xiaobo”)
Radio France Internationale, February 16, 2016
http://cn.rfi.fr/中国/20160216-中国对美国参议院以刘晓波名更改中国使馆街道名议案愤怒

江苏去年查办贪贿案1278件 (Jiangsu investigated and handled 1,278 bribery cases last year)
Legal Daily, February 16, 2016
http://epaper.legaldaily.com.cn/fzrb/content/20160216/Articel03005GN.htm

山西去年查办职务案1444件 (Shanxi investigated and handled 1,444 cases of abuse of public office last year)
Legal Daily, February 16, 2016
http://epaper.legaldaily.com.cn/fzrb/content/20160216/Articel03006GN.htm

安徽老人被冤20年后告公安局:遭逼供为求死认罪 (Elderly Anhuinese wronged 20 years ago tells Public Security Bureau: You tortured me so much that I wanted to confess just so that I could receive the death penalty and die)
Beijing Times, February 16, 2016
http://news.qq.com/a/20160217/002886.htm

CPC journal stresses continuing anti-graft campaign
Xinua, February 16, 2016
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-02/16/c_135103970.htm

What NOT to learn from Zhou Yongkang and Ling Jihua: Fall of China’s corrupt party “gangs” a lesson for its cadres
South China Morning Post, February 16, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1913589/what-not-learn-zhou-yongkang-and-ling-jihua-fall-chinas

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

Exploring cybersecurity from China’s perspective
Christian Science Monitor: Passcode, February 11, 2016
http://passcode.csmonitor.com/china

Hong Kong (香港)

Gov’t rejects scholars’ calls for independent inquiry on Mong Kok unrest
Hong Kong Free Press, February 16, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/02/16/govt-rejects-scholars-calls-for-independent-inquiry-on-mong-kok-unrest/

Hong Kong localist group “knows no bounds” when it comes to protesting, says activist and by-election candidate
South China Morning Post, February 16, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/article/1913594/hong-kong-localist-group-knows-no-bounds-when-it-comes-protesting-says-activist

Protests may continue in Hong Kong
Voice of America, February 16, 2016
http://www.voanews.com/content/protests-may-continue-in-hong-kong/3192761.html

China says missing bookseller doesn't want his case hyped up
Reuters, February 16, 2016
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-rights-un-response-idUSKCN0VQ003

Related:
Hong Kong bookseller Lee Po could face 10 years in jail for blackmail
South China Morning Post, February 16, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1913595/hong-kong-bookseller-lee-po-could-face-10-years-jail

HSBC spooked by HK-China “integration” and eroding autonomy, says activist
Hong Kong Free Press, February 16, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/02/16/hsbc-spooked-by-hk-china-integration-and-eroding-autonomy-says-activist/

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

福建举行跨区域应急处置演习: 检验反恐应急能力 (Fujian holds cross-regional emergency response drills: checking counter-terrorism emergency response capability)
China Police Online, February 16, 2016
http://www.hxnews.com/news/fj/fj/201602/14/820859.shtml

Opinion and Editorial (观点和社论)

A legal defense against Chinese oppression
The Wall Street Journal, February 16, 2015
http://www.wsj.com/articles/a-legal-defense-against-chinese-oppression-1455645739

贺卫方:同性恋群体的中国处境 (He Weifang: The situation of China's LGBT community)
Aisixiang, February 16, 2016
http://www.aisixiang.com/data/97083.html

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Access to Justice (司法公正)

China’s legal professionals, under limits at home, note Scalia’s death
在中国,斯卡利亚之死是一面镜子
The New York Times, February 16, 2016
EN: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/16/world/asia/china-legal-professionals-antonin-scalia.html
CH: http://cn.nytimes.com/china/20160216/c16chinascalia/

Access to Information (信息公开)

许多中国大陆记者 因不堪当局控制媒体退出新闻界 (Many Chinese reporters withdraw from journalism, unable to stand authorities’ control over media)
Radio Free Asia, February 15, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/meiti/nu-02152016170542.html

Ties to Chinese state media raise questions in U.S. election campaign
The New York Times, February 6, 2016
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/06/world/asia/phillip-yin-lieutenant-governor-washington-state.html

Government Accountability (政府问责)

To purge or not to purge: China’s anti-corruption campaign
The Diplomat, February 15, 2016
http://thediplomat.com/2016/02/to-purge-or-not-to-purge-chinas-anti-corruption-campaign/

China's military sets up anti-corruption hotline
Reuters, February 15, 2016
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-military-corruption-idUSKCN0VO185

Deadly Tianjin warehouse explosion: review leads to China moving 10 chemical plants
South China Morning Post, February 15, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1913250/deadly-tianjin-warehouse-explosion-review-leads-china

China to protect migrant workers' “left-behind” children
British Broadcasting Corporation, February 15, 2016
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-35581716

Hong Kong (香港)

Beijing pins Hong Kong riot on “radical separatists”
Agence France-Presse, February 15, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/02/15/beijing-pins-hong-kong-riot-on-radical-separatists/

Student activists stage fresh protest against “brainwashing” curriculum changes
Hong Kong Free Press, February 15, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/02/15/student-activists-stage-fresh-protest-against-brainwashing-curriculum-changes/

Hong Kong government rejects calls for inquiry into “fishball” riots
Radio Free Asia, February 15, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/riots-hk-02152016151608.html

谁是黄之锋?(Who is Joshua Wong? A Three-part interview series with Joshua Wong, in Chinse)
South China Morning Post, February 14-16, 2016
http://www.nanzao.com/sc/national/152d4df6859a3d4/shui-shi-huang-zhi-feng-
http://www.nanzao.com/sc/national/152def13cb62544/shui-shi-huang-zhi-feng-er-
http://www.nanzao.com/sc/national/152def9880488cb/shui-shi-huang-zhi-feng-san-

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

Chinese Uighur was tortured into confessing role in Bangkok bomb: lawyer
Reuters, February 15, 2016
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-thailand-blast-idUSKCN0VO0ID

Related:
曼谷爆炸案:律师称当事人遭酷刑逼供 (Bangkok bomb: Lawyer says defendant’s confession extorted through torture)
British Broadcasting Corporation, February 15, 2016
http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/world/2016/02/160215_thailand_blast

Opinion and Editorial (观点和社论)

The rise of rule by fear
The University of Nottingham: China Policy Institute, February 15, 2016
http://blogs.nottingham.ac.uk/chinapolicyinstitute/2016/02/15/rule-of-law-vs-rule-by-fear/

Guo Jianmei, Zhongze, and the empowerment of women in China
China Change, February 14, 2016
http://chinachange.org/2016/02/14/guo-jianmei-zhongze-and-the-empowerment-of-women-in-china/

Monday, February 15, 2016

Access to Information (信息公开)

China's young reporters give up on journalism: “You can't write what you want”
The Guardian, February 12, 2016
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/12/china-journalism-reporters-freedom-of-speech

Chinese media in uproar over U.S. move to honor dissident
Associated Press, February 14, 2016
http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/chinese-media-in-uproar-over-us-move-to-honour-dissident/article8236775.ece

That time China censored an art summit—in another country
The Washington Post, February 12, 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/02/12/that-time-china-censored-an-art-summit-in-another-country/

Chinese journalist banned from flying to U.S. to accept a prize for his work
The Guardian, February 15, 2016
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/15/chinese-journalist-banned-from-flying-to-us-to-accept-a-prize-for-his-work

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

独立民间组织生存环境恶化 维权NGO担忧未来命运 (Environment for independent NGOs worsens, rights defense NGO worries about future fate)
Radio Free Asia, February 12, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/xl2-02122016104857.html

Two monks detained in Sichuan over Dalai Lama prayers
Radio Free Asia, February 11, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/prayers-02112016162509.html

Campaign against China's Christians spreads to Guangdong province
Radio Free Asia, February 12, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/campaign-against-chinas-christians-spreads-to-guangdong-province-02122016111628.html