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.

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Access to Information (信息公开)

People’s Daily Chief warns of “historic mistake” if China loses grip on new media
The Wall Street Journal, March 21, 2016
http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2016/03/21/peoples-daily-chief-warns-of-historic-mistake-if-china-loses-grip-on-new-media/

《人民日报》署名文章重申党管媒体“原则” (Signed People’s Daily article reiterates “principles” of state governed media)
Radio Free Asia, March 21, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/meiti/sd-03212016113335.html

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

China holds five ethnic Mongolian herders who protested mining pollution
内蒙西乌旗6牧民被指“扰乱商业秩序”行政拘留
Radio Free Asia, March 21, 2016
EN: http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/china-herders-03212016123729.html
CH: http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shaoshuminzu/ql1-03212016103018.html

Fearful of China’s reach abroad, dissidents try risky voyage
The Washington Post, March 22, 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/fearful-of-chinas-reach-abroad-dissidents-try-risky-voyage/2016/03/22/d6a2e4f8-efe5-11e5-a2a3-d4e9697917d1_story.html

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Tainted vaccine scandal sparks fear, anger in China
Radio Free Asia, March 21, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/vaccine-03212016124529.html

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

China, Germany working on cybersecurity deal, envoy says
Caixin, March 17, 2016
http://english.caixin.com/2016-03-17/100921423.html

Hong Kong (香港)

Education proposals spark controversy in Hong Kong
Voice of America, March 21, 2016
http://www.voanews.com/content/education-proposals-spark-controversy-in-hong-kong/3247092.html

Scholarism’s Agnes Chow urges locals to get involved in debate on Hong Kong’s future
South China Morning Post, March 22, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1928755/scholarisms-agnes-chow-urges-locals-get-involved-debate-hong

香港新闻自由持续恶化 记协忧劣势已成 (Hong Kong’s press freedom continues to worsen, the Journalists Association worries that the damage has already been done)
Radio France Internationale, March 22, 2016
http://cn.rfi.fr/中国/20160322-香港新闻自由持续恶化-记协忧劣势已成

【國立爭議】中大交換計劃網站 國立台灣大學英文名不見National(國立) 中大:和所有合作院校有良好溝通 ([Dispute over “National”] CUHK exchange program website omits the word “National” for “National Taiwan University”, CUHK claims to have good communication with all partnering institutes)
Ming Pao, March 22, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20160322/s00001/1458580429897

Related:
劇團場刊被迫刪「國立」二字 康文署捱轟 台藝大遺憾 (The word “National” intentionally taken off on theatre program, Hong Kong Leisure and Cultural Services Department accused, Taipei National University of the Arts expresses regrets)
AM730, March 22, 2016
http://www.am730.com.hk/article-306709

Opinion and Editorial (观点和社论)

Cracks in Xi Jinping’s fortress?
ChinaFile, March 21, 2016
http://www.chinafile.com/conversation/cracks-xi-jinpings-fortress

Hong Kong and China: A special relationship
Al Jazeera, March 22, 2016
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2016/03/hong-kong-china-special-relationship-160320110701938.html

中国警方被指非法剥夺公民财产和自由 (Chinese police accused of stripping civil properties and freedom)
Voice of America, March 22, 2016
http://www.voachinese.com/content/voa-news-chinese-governent-illegally-take-people-belongings-20160321/3247629.html

时事大家谈:“十日文革”戛然而止,个人崇拜遭到抵制 (Current Affairs Discussion: “Ten Days’ Cultural Revolution” halted, personal cult repelled)
Voice of America, March 21, 2016
http://www.voachinese.com/media/video/VOAWeishi-20160321-VOAIO-2/3247299.html

Monday, March 21, 2016

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Trial of woman for killing abusive husband, severing his genitals, shines light on domestic violence in China
South China Morning Post, March
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/1927590/trial-woman-killing-abusive-husband-shines-light-domestic

China holds migrant workers' trial outdoors “to educate public”
Reuters, March 18, 2016
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-protests-idUSKCN0WK0IG

Access to Information (信息公开)

China columnist Jia Jia detained by Beijing police, his lawyer says
British Broadcasting Corporation, March 21, 2016
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-35859875

Related:
Rights groups slam China over missing journalist
Agence France-Presse, March 20, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/03/20/rights-groups-slam-china-over-missing-journalist/

Why Xi Jinping’s media controls are “absolutely unyielding”
Foreign Policy, March 17, 2016
http://foreignpolicy.com/2016/03/17/why-xi-jinpings-media-controls-absolutely-unyielding-censorship-china-economy-speech/

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Chinese tycoon criticizes leader, and wins surprising support
中共因任志强事件遭遇党内外激烈反弹
The New York Times, March 19, 2016
EN: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/19/world/asia/china-ren-zhiqiang-weibo.html
CH: http://cn.nytimes.com/china/20160321/c21chinaren/

德国总统到北京 维权人士诉期望 (German President visits Beijing, rights defenders voice their expectations)
Deutsche Welle, March 20, 2016
http://www.dw.com/zh/德国总统到北京-维权人士诉期望/a-19129834

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg meets China's propaganda chief in Beijing
South China Morning Post, March 20, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1927668/facebooks-mark-zuckerberg-meets-chinas-propaganda-chief

Related:
Netizens mock Mark Zuckerberg's love affair with China
Global Voices, March 19, 2016
https://globalvoices.org/2016/03/19/netizens-mock-mark-zuckerbergs-love-affair-with-china/

Chinese tech firm tells users: We may hand over your data to the government
The Wall Street Journal, March 18, 2016
http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2016/03/18/chinese-tech-firm-tells-users-we-may-hand-over-your-data-to-the-government/

Hong Kong (香港)

Scholarism “suspends operations” to form new student group and political party
Hong Kong Free Press, March 20, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/03/20/scholarism-suspends-operations-to-form-new-student-group-and-political-party/

A closer look at China's contested Internet
Caixin, March 19, 2016
http://english.caixin.com/2016-03-19/100921916.html

聯合國保障網絡傳媒採訪自由 (The U.N. protects Internet media’s rights to newsgathering)
InMedia HK, March 21, 2016
http://www.inmediahk.net/node/1041368

香港铜锣湾书店失踪案主角之一吕波现身香港 (1 of the 5 disappeared sellers at Causeway Bay Books Lui Bo reappears in Hong Kong)
Radio France Internationale, March 19, 2016
http://cn.rfi.fr/中国/20160319-香港铜锣湾书店失踪案主角之一吕波现身香港

Opinion and Editorial (观点和社论)

Defiant young Hong Kongers are bound to resist Beijing’s meddling and demand independence
Hong Kong Free Press, March 20, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/03/20/defiant-young-hong-kongers-are-bound-to-resist-beijings-meddling-and-demand-independence/

A paradigm shift in civil society: from the Umbrella to the Fishball Revolution
Hong Kong Free Press, March 20, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/03/20/rights-groups-slam-china-over-missing-journalist/

Friday, March 18, 2016

Access to Justice (司法公正)

“两孩” 政策落地需强化法律保障 (Implementing “Two Child” policy requires strengthened legal protections)
Legal Daily, March 17, 2016
http://epaper.legaldaily.com.cn/fzrb/content/20160317/Articel05001GN.htm

为破解执法困境委员建言, 城管要实现先服务后管理 (CPPCC Standing Committee: To resolve law enforcement difficulties, “chengguan” city management officers should put service before management)
Legal Daily, March 15, 2016
http://epaper.legaldaily.com.cn/fzrb/content/20160315/Articel07009GN.htm

Access to Information (信息公开)

Veteran Chinese journalist Gao Yu seen “on vacation” in Yunnan
高瑜“被旅游”云南曾见异议人士
Radio Free Asia, March 17, 2016
EN: http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/veteran-chinese-journalist-gao-yu-seen-on-vacation-in-yunnan-03172016115717.html
CH: http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/gao-03172016075822.html

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

激活潜能“朝阳群众”屡立新功 (Its potential actuated, volunteer security patrols "Chaoyang Masses" garner repeated achievements)
Legal Daily, March 11, 2016
http://epaper.legaldaily.com.cn/fzrb/content/20160311/Articel03002GN.htm

Related:
Chaoyang masses
China Digital Times
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/space/Chaoyang_masses

Miner protests in the Northeast and the end of China’s economic boom
China Change, March 17, 2016
http://chinachange.org/2016/03/17/miner-protests-in-the-northeast-and-the-end-of-chinas-economic-boom/

Charity law to ban activity that "endangers security"
China Digital Times, March 11, 2016
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2016/03/charity-law-forbid-activity-endangers-national-security/

Government Accountability (政府问责)

防范刑讯逼供的立法建议 (Legislative suggestions for preventing torture)
Legal Daily, March 16, 2016
http://news.sina.com.cn/o/2016-03-16/doc-ifxqhfvp1132251.shtml

反腐专门法未进立法计划, 人大常委会法工委官员解释 (Official from Legislative Work Committee of NPC Standing Committee: Targeted anti-corruption law will not go into legislative plan)
Beijing News, March 10, 2016
http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2016/03-10/7790971.shtml

去年国家赔偿金额2.4亿, 审结国家赔偿案5439件 (Last year, 5,439 state compensation cases totaled payouts of RMB 240 million)
Bejing News, March 14, 2016
http://news.qq.com/a/20160314/007670.htm

Suppressed in translation: How Chinese versions of UN covenants gloss over human rights
The Economist, March
http://www.economist.com/news/china/21695095-how-chinese-versions-un-covenants-gloss-over-human-rights-suppressed-translation

Related:
China at the UN: Shouting Down the Critics
中国蛮横拒绝国际社会的批评
Human Rights in China, March 15, 2016
EN: http://www.hrichina.org/en/press-work/press-release/china-un-shouting-down-critics
CH: http://www.hrichina.org/chs/xin-wen-gong-zuo/xin-wen-fa-bu/zhong-guo-man-heng-ju-jue-guo-ji-she-hui-de-pi-ping

China graft busters blame golf for executive's downfall
Channel NewsAsia, March 17, 2016
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/china-graft-busters-blame/2612148.html

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

China’s contested Internet: Historical struggle and uncertain future
The Futures We Want, March 17, 2016
http://futureswewant.net/guobin-yang-china-internet/

微信维权平台去年受理投诉850万件 (WeChat legal complaints platform last year handled 8.5 million cases)
Legal Daily, March 17, 2016
http://epaper.legaldaily.com.cn/fzrb/content/20160317/Articel06006GN.htm

Hong Kong (香港)

Hong Kong students call for territory’s independence from China
彻底决裂,香港学生喊出独立口号
The New York Times, March 18, 2016
EN: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/18/world/asia/hong-kong-independence-undergrad.html
CH: http://cn.nytimes.com/china/20160318/c18hongkong/

China official says Hong Kong sovereignty “impossible”
British Broadcasting Corporation, March 17, 2016
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-35828915

Extreme? Moderate? No, Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong’s new party will be somewhere in between
黄之锋:新政党介乎极端激进与传统温和之间
South China Morning Post, March 18, 2016
EN: http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1926876/extreme-moderate-no-hong-kong-activist-joshua-wongs-new
CH: http://www.nanzao.com/sc/hk-macau-tw/15387f28a84eb45/huang-zhi-feng-xin-zheng-dang-jie-hu-ji-duan-ji-jin-yu-chuan-tong-wen-he-zhi-jian

Causeway Bay books co-owner Lee Bo may return to HK by end of the month—report
Hong Kong Free Press, March 18, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/03/18/causeway-bay-books-co-owner-lee-bo-may-return-to-hk-by-end-of-the-month-report/

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

孟建柱会见美国联邦调查局局长科米 (Meng Jianzhu, head of CPC Political and Legislative Affairs Committee, meets with U.S. FBI Director James Comey)
Legal Daily, March 16, 2016
http://epaper.legaldaily.com.cn/fzrb/content/20160316/Articel01004GN.htm

吴爱英会见美国联邦调查局局长科米 (Minister of Justice Wu Aiying meets with FBI Director James Comey)
Legal Daily, March 17, 2016
http://epaper.legaldaily.com.cn/fzrb/content/20160317/Articel01007GN.htm

China becomes first foreign buyer of S-400 as Moscow and Beijing team up against U.S. encroachment
RussiaInsider, March 13, 2016
http://russia-insider.com/en/china-makes-advance-payment-s-400/ri13324

Learning Party-speak: What the new textbook for dislocated minority students tells us about China
China Policy Institute Blog, March 8, 2016
http://blogs.nottingham.ac.uk/chinapolicyinstitute/2016/03/08/learning-party-speak-what-the-new-textbook-for-dislocated-minority-students-tells-us-about-china/

China tamps dissent with trumped up “state security” and “terrorism” charges
Radio Free Asia, March 17, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/china-tamps-dissent-with-trumped-up-state-security-and-terrorism-charges-03172016125319.html

After shootout, China says Uighur militants a threat to Indonesia
Reuters, March 17, 2016
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-indonesia-security-idUSKCN0WJ12U