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, April 19, 2016

Access to Justice (司法公正)

China underscores CPC code of conduct in education on law
Xinhua, April 17, 2016
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-04/17/c_135287350.htm

Accessing Chinese criminal law legal developments via Wechat (updated)
Supreme People’s Court Monitor, April 16, 2016
https://supremepeoplescourtmonitor.com/2016/04/16/accessing-chinese-criminal-law-legal-developments-via-wechat/

China sets death penalty threshold in graft cases
Hong Kong Free Press, April 18, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/04/18/china-sets-death-penalty-threshold-in-graft-cases/

China holds lawyers, threatens activist amid Mongolian pollution protest
Radio Free Asia, April 18, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/china-holds-lawyers-04182016111456.html

Are gay rights really making progress in China?
The Diplomat, April 18, 2016
http://thediplomat.com/2016/04/are-gay-rights-really-making-progress-in-china/

怕中国?美国律师协会取消滕彪新书出版 (Fear China? The America Bar Association cancels the publication of Teng Biao’s new book)
Voice of America, April 19, 2016
http://www.voachinese.com/content/voa-news-weishi-conenct-teng-biao-20160418/3290654.html

Access to Information (信息公开)

Internet star Papi Jiang censored for foul language
Sixth Tone, April 18, 2016
http://www.sixthtone.com/news/china-censors-its-biggest-internet-celebrity-papi-jiang

海外著名中文网站《中国人权双周刊》遭骇客强力攻击严重瘫痪 (Famous overseas Chinese website “HRIC Shuangzhoukan” struck down by hackers)
Radio France Internationale, April 19, 2016
http://cn.rfi.fr/中国/20160419-海外著名中文网站《中国人权双周刊》遭骇客强力攻击严重瘫痪

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Twitter’s new China head wants to “work together” with state media
Hong Kong Free Press, April 19, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/04/19/twitters-new-china-head-wants-to-work-together-with-state-media/

Chinese parents outraged after illnesses at school are tied to pollution
The New York Times, April 19, 2016
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/19/world/asia/china-pollution-cancer-changzhou.html

Government Accountability (政府问责)

President Xi calls for "people-centric" reform
Xinhua, April 18, 2016
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-04/18/c_135290561.htm

Top legal affairs official in Hebei is subject of “discipline” probe
Caixin, April 18, 2016
http://english.caixin.com/2016-04-18/100933682.html

China’s Communist Party shows the door to “superstitious” former vice-governor
South China Morning Post, April 19, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1936994/chinas-communist-party-shows-door-superstitious-former

China widens graft curbs on business activities by officials' families
Channel NewsAsia, April 19, 2016
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/china-widens-graft-curbs/2709424.html

China’s vaccine scandal threatens public faith in immunizations
The New York Times, April 18, 2016
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/19/world/asia/china-vaccine-scandal.html

美学者:美国对中国的政策一开始就设定错误 (American scholar: U.S.’s China policy is wrong from the outset)
Voice of America, April 19, 2016
http://www.voachinese.com/content/us-foreign-policy-20160418/3291709.html

Hong Kong (香港)

Hong Kong to probe “bag-gate” amid accusations of abuse of power
Radio Free Asia, April 18, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/power-04182016110517.html

Pro-Beijing lawmaker says talk of independence will lead to Article 23 security law
Hong Kong Free Press, April 18, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/04/18/pro-beijing-lawmakers-say-talk-of-independence-will-lead-to-article-23-security-law/

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

China observes 1st National Security Education Day
Xinhua, April 15, 2016
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-04/15/c_135282737.htm

Chinese man sentenced to death for leaking 150,000 classified documents
The Guardian, April 19, 2016
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/19/chinese-man-sentenced-to-death-for-leaking-150000-classified-documents

Opinion and Editorial (观点和社论)

Targeting beyond China
The New York Times, April 14, 2016
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/14/opinion/targeting-beyond-china.html

Employees in China should be allowed to protest against work conditions without fear of reprisals
South China Morning Post, April 19, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1937021/employees-china-should-be-allowed-protest-against-work

China and the American Bar Association—Another sad story
Jerry’s Blog, April 18, 2016
http://www.jeromecohen.net/jerrys-blog/china-and-the-american-bar-association

Think China’s Xi Jinping is in trouble? Think again
The Wall Street Journal, April 18, 2016
http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2016/04/18/think-chinas-xi-jinping-is-in-trouble-think-again/

Functional constituencies: Broadening the franchise is vital for accountability and governance
Hong Kong Free Press, April 17, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/04/17/functional-constituencies-broadening-the-franchise-is-vital-for-accountability-and-governance/

解讀港人「人心背離」之謎 (Understanding the myth of Hong Kong people’s sense of belonging)
Ming Pao, April 19, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20160419/s00022/1461030737186

體現主權與「台灣李波事件」 (Exemplifying sovereignty and the “Taiwan Lee Bo case”)
Ming Pao, April 19, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20160419/s00022/1461030238796

Monday, April 18, 2016

Access to Justice (司法公正)

China briefly detains rights lawyer Ge Yongxi over Panama Papers post
British Broadcasting Corporation, April 15, 2016
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-36055000

Leaked email: ABA cancels book for fear of “upsetting the Chinese government”
Foreign Policy, April 15, 2016
http://foreignpolicy.com/2016/04/15/leaked-email-aba-cancels-book-for-fear-of-upsetting-the-chinese-government-american-bar-association-teng-biao/

Access to Information (信息公开)

Publishing platform Medium may be blocked in China, reports say
Reuters, April 15, 2016
http://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/apr/15/medium-blocked-china-internet-censorship

China is using Mr. Bean and Batman to help explain the importance of protecting state secrets
Quartz, April 15, 2016
http://qz.com/662802/china-is-using-mr-bean-and-batman-to-help-explain-the-importance-of-protecting-state-secrets/

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

问题疫苗事件志愿律师团律师遭当局警告 (Voluntary lawyers assisting victims in problematic vaccine case warned by authorities)
Radio Free Asia, April 15, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/huanjing/xl1-04152016141124.html

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Pen-pushers and paper tigers: China’s bureaucrats are still good at getting their way
South China Morning Post, April 17, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1936762/pen-pushers-and-paper-tigers-chinas-bureaucrats-are

China, U.S. accuse each other of human rights violations
The Diplomat, April 15, 2016
http://thediplomat.com/2016/04/china-us-accuse-each-other-of-human-rights-violations/

Hong Kong theatre group dedicated to Tiananmen crackdown concerned by dwindling interest from schools
South China Morning Post, April 17, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1936693/hong-kong-theatre-group-dedicated-tiananmen-crackdown

美国国会举办中国酷刑听证会 受害者哭诉被虐遭遇 (U.S. Congress holds hearing on China’s tortures, victims cry recounting their horrors)
Radio Free Asia, April 15, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/grace-04152016150459.html

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

Chinese Twitter users unsettled at appointment of new managing director
China Change, April 17, 2016
https://chinachange.org/2016/04/17/chinese-twitter-users-unsettled-at-appointment-of-new-managing-director/

Hong Kong (香港)

Democratic Party lines up young guns to fight Hong Kong Legco elections
South China Morning Post, April 18, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1936758/democratic-party-lines-young-guns-fight-hong-kong-legco

“First academic casualty after Occupy”: Lingnan Uni refuses to renew contract of radical professor
Hong Kong Free Press, April 14, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/04/14/first-casualty-after-occupy-lingnan-refuses-contract-extension-of-radical-professor/

Missing booksellers and HKU’s Johannes Chan cases highlighted in U.S. human rights report
Hong Kong Free Press, April 14, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/04/14/missing-booksellers-and-hkus-johannes-chan-cases-highlighted-in-us-human-rights-report/

【港獨爭拗】如何說服中央接受公投? 羅冠聰指言之尚早 先累積實力([Dispute over Hong Kong’s independence] How to convince Beijing to accept referendum? Demosisto chairman Nathan Law says it’s too early to say, better gather strength first)
Ming Pao, April 17, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20160417/s00001/1460860045726

【港獨爭拗】李彭廣:中共革命是否叛國? 籲多看歷史 從根源解決問題 ([Dispute over Hong Kong’s independence] Dr. Li Pang-kwong asks if CPC’s revolution was treason, urging the public to take reference from history, and solve problems from the roots)
Ming Pao, April 17, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20160417/s00001/1460877441020

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

认清国家安全形势 树立国家安全观念 (Identify situation of national security properly, construct the concept of national security)
Guangming Wang, April 16, 2016
http://news.gmw.cn/2016-04/16/content_19729528.htm

Opinion and Editorial (观点和社论)

Transparency key in fighting graft
South China Morning Post, April 18, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/business/article/1936780/transparency-key-fighting-graft

中大被梁粉入侵 學生會責無旁貸 (CUHK invaded by member of “CY Leung’s gang”, student association’s responsibility is unshirkable)
InMeddia HK, April 16, 2016
http://www.inmediahk.net/node/1041818

Friday, April 15, 2016

Access to Justice (司法公正)

China formally disbars prominent Chinese rights lawyer Pu Zhiqiang
South China Morning Post, April 14, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1935950/china-formally-disbars-prominent-chinese-rights-lawyer

China human rights: Trailblazing in the LGBT community
British Broadcasting Corporation, April 13, 2016
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-36038311

Access to Information (信息公开)

Q&A with TV association director You Xiaogang on censorship
Sixth Tone, April 14, 2016
http://www.sixthtone.com/news/qa-tv-association-director-you-xiaogang-censorship

Claims Hong Kong independence forum censored
South China Morning Post, April 14, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1936029/claims-hong-kong-independence-forum-censored

GreatFire activist urges western firms to help end Chinese censorship
The Guardian, April 14, 2016
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/14/greatfire-activist-urges-western-firms-to-help-end-chinese-censorship

Panama Papers: China detains lawyer after he shares details of leaders online
The Guardian, April 15, 2016
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/15/panama-papers-china-lawyer-shares-details-leaders-online

ABC rejects criticism its Chinese web portal bows to Beijing censorship
The Guardian, April 15, 2016
http://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/apr/15/abc-rejects-criticism-its-chinese-web-portal-bows-to-beijing-censorship

In China, Australian prime minister urges greater openness
Reuters, April 14, 2016
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-australia-idUSKCN0XC0AV

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Workers’ struggle continues as China’s economic growth slows to 6.7 percent
China Labor Bulletin, April 15, 2016
http://www.clb.org.hk/content/workers%E2%80%99-struggle-continues-china%E2%80%99s-economic-growth-slows-67-percent

中国五位女权人士取保候审条件部分解除 (5 Chinese feminists’ bail conditions partially removed)
Radio Free Asia, April 14, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/nu-04142016124907.html

黎海滨:坚持依法治访 努力实现维权和维稳的统一 (Li Haibin: Persist in managing petitions according to the law, endeavor to achieve the unity of rights protection and stability maintenance)
Ming Pao, April 15, 2016
http://politics.people.com.cn/n1/2016/0415/c369091-28279865.html

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Taiwan bids to stop Chinese suspects in Malaysia being deported to mainland China
South China Morning Post, April 15, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1936080/taiwan-bids-stop-chinese-suspects-malaysia-being

独家披露:被纪委谈话是什么样的画面? (Exclusive: What scenario is it to be taken to a talk by the Commission for Discipline Inspection?)
People’s Daily, April 15, 2016
http://politics.people.com.cn/n1/2016/0415/c1001-28278989.html

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

China now the largest source of internet threats thanks to rise of zombie computers
報告:中國成全球網絡安全威脅頭號來源
South China Morning Post, April 15, 2016
EN: http://www.scmp.com/tech/article/1936049/china-now-largest-source-internet-threats-thanks-rise-zombie-computers
CH: http://www.nanzao.com/tc/business/154184fa9874df5/bao-gao-zhong-guo-cheng-quan-qiu-wang-luo-an-quan-wei-xie-tou-hao-lai-yuan