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.

Monday, July 11, 2016

Access to Justice (司法公正)

12 months after crackdown, Chinese rights lawyers call for release of detained colleagues
South China Morning Post, July 9, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1987372/12-months-after-crackdown-chinese-rights-lawyers-call

Related:
Reluctant human rights defenders: The wives of those detained in China’s lawyer crackdown
Hong Kong Free Press, July 9, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/07/09/reluctant-human-rights-defenders-the-wives-of-those-detained-in-chinas-lawyer-crackdown/

Husband of Chinese legal assistant Zhao Wei questions whether she has been set free
The Guardian, July 11, 2016
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jul/11/husband-of-chinese-law-graduate-zhao-wei-questions-whether-she-has-been-set

U.S. legislators criticize China's rights lawyer crackdown
Reuters, July 8, 2016
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-rights-idUSKCN0ZO15K

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

Inside China’s secret 23-day detention of a foreign nonprofit chief
The New York Times, July 10, 2016
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/10/world/asia/china-ned-ngo-peter-dahlin.html

Access to Information (信息公开)

學者以習近平命名臭蟲遭封殺 (Academic named new bug after Xi Jinping, news banned)
Hong Kong Economic Journal, July 11, 2016
http://www2.hkej.com/instantnews/current/article/1341624/學者以習近平命名臭蟲遭封殺

【繁簡爭議】黨報指繁體字傳承歷史體現文化 惟現代人應「識繁用簡」 ([Debates over traditional and simplified characters] State media says traditional characters carries history and embodies culture, but modern people should “know the traditional and use the simplified”)
Ming Pao, July 9, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20160709/s00004/1468045401916

Chinese language newspapers in Australia: Beijing controls messaging, propaganda in press
Sydney Morning Herald, July 10, 2016
http://www.smh.com.au/national/chinese-language-newspapers-in-australia-beijing-controls-messaging-propaganda-in-press-20160610-gpg0s3.html

China to target returning students with correct Party line
Radio Free Asia, July 8, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/china-unitedfront-07082016095612.html

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Chinese Propaganda Chief leads “Tibet Development Forum” in Lhasa
Voice of America, July 9, 2016
http://www.voanews.com/content/chinese-propaganda-chief-leads-tibet-development-forum-lhasa/3410375.html

China ex-security czar's friend jailed for seven years
Channel NewsAsia, July 8, 2016
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/china-ex-security-czar-s/2941346.html

Hong Kong (香港)

警校畢業禮邀駐港部隊司令檢閱被指破壞一國兩制 (PLA commander in Hong Kong invited to review Police Training School graduation ceremony, criticized for breaching One Country Two Systems)
Radio France Internationale, July 10, 2016
http://trad.cn.rfi.fr/中國/20160710-警校畢業禮邀駐港部隊司令檢閱被指破壞一國兩制

NYC welcomes Hong Kong controversial film "Ten Years" to America on Independence Day
Forbes, July 9, 2016
http://www.forbes.com/sites/rebeccafeng/2016/07/09/nyc-welcomes-hong-kong-controversial-film-ten-years-to-america-on-independence-day/#6b59379a62f7

Opinion and Editorial (观点和社论)

China’s “The Paper”: Trailblazing media idealism or slick propaganda for the digital era?
Hong Kong Free Press, July 10, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/07/10/chinas-the-paper-a-trailblazer-of-media-idealism-or-slick-propaganda-for-the-digital-era/

The “709 Incident:” some testimony from the human rights lawyer community
China Change, July 8, 2016
https://chinachange.org/2016/07/08/the-709-incident-some-testimony-from-the-human-rights-lawyer-community/

Friday, July 08, 2016

Access to Justice (司法公正)

最高法:八种情况可申请国家司法救助, 规定额度上限 (Supreme People's Court: 8 circumstances in which state assistance may be applied for, with limit on maximum amount to be awarded)
YuYao News, July 6, 2016
https://perma.cc/Q973-939Z

Woman detained in China’s lawyer crackdown pens letter of apology, says she was “used” by foreign orgs
Hong Kong Free Press, July 8 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/07/08/woman-detained-in-chinas-lawyer-crackdown-pens-letter-of-apology-says-she-was-used-by-foreign-orgs/

Related:
中国维权律师关注组发布709事件周年最新发展及寻人启事 (China Human Rights Lawyers Concern Group issues latest development of 709 Crackdown and search notices)
Radio Free Asia, July 7, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/xl2-07072016101537.html

中国维权律师妻子集体上访最高检 (Wives of Chinese rights lawyers gather to petition at the Supreme People's Procuratorate)
Deutsche Welle, July 7, 2016
http://www.dw.com/zh/中国维权律师妻子集体上访最高检/a-19386016

China’s shattered dream for the rule of law, one year on
China Change, July 8, 2016
https://chinachange.org/2016/07/08/chinas-shattered-dream-for-the-rule-of-law-one-year-on/

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

China violated rights of detained American, U.N. panel says
简讯:联合国人权机构称中国随意拘押美国公民
The New York Times, July 8, 2016
EN: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/08/world/asia/china-un-phan-gillis-detained-american.html
CH: http://cn.nytimes.com/china/20160707/cc07chinadetain/

Access to Information (信息公开)

中国大陆警方近来严查网购境外“禁书” (Mainland Chinese police closely investigate online purchases of foreign “banned books” recently)
Radio Free Asia, July 7, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/meiti/yl-07072016102230.html

2016年昆明将加大推进水源水质信息公开 (In 2016, Kunming will increase promotion of information disclosure on water sources and quality)
Yunnan Info, June 30, 2016
http://info.js.hc360.com/2016/06/301052135002.shtml https://perma.cc/E4B9-59RY

China’s Communist Youth League joins witch-hunt of film director Zhao Wei for using “pro-Taiwan-independence” actor
South China Morning Post, July 8, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1987148/chinas-communist-youth-league-joins-witch-hunt-film

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

留学人员成统战新着力点, 中央明确欧美同学会应成立党组 (Chinese students studying abroad a new focal point for United Front work, CPC clarifies that Western Returned Scholars Association should establish Party Organization(s))
Phoenix News, July 6, 2016
https://perma.cc/E4B9-59RY

Government Accountability (政府问责)

潘基文:活跃的民间社会和自由媒体对中国发展至关重要 (UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon: Active civil societies and free media are essential to China’s development)
Radio Free Asia, July 7, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/zhengzhi/nu-07072016102407.html

大赦国际和香港人权机构呼吁中国政府停止残酷压制人权律师 (Amnesty International and Hong Kong organization call on Chinese government to stop brutal suppression of rights lawyers)
Voice of America, July 8, 2016
http://www.voachinese.com/a/china-human-rights-lawyers-20160707/3408381.html

Body found in wreckage of home forcibly demolished in central China
South China Morning Post, July 8, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/1987051/body-found-wreckage-home-forcibly-demolished-central-china

China jails “Xinjiang sage” connected to former security chief
Reuters, July 8, 2016
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-corruption-judgement-idUSKCN0ZO0B7

County officials in Tibet seize land, sell at a profit to developers
Radio Free Asia, July 7, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/land-07072016145422.html

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

中国两支最强反恐部队将首次共同 赴俄参加演习 (China's 2 strongest counter-terrorism units to jointly visit Russia for 1st time to engage in exercises)
Sina News, June 29, 2016
http://mil.news.sina.com.cn/china/2016-06-28/doc-ifxtmwei9438201.shtml

浙江警方开出首张个人“反恐罚单” (Zhejiang police issue first individual notice of “counter-terrorism infringement”)
Taizhou Evening News, July 5, 2016
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2016-07/05/c_129118269.htm

Hong Kong (香港)

郭声琨会见香港特区政府代表团 (Guo Shengkun, Minister of Public Security, meets with HK SAR delegation)
Legal Daily, July 6, 2016
http://epaper.legaldaily.com.cn/fzrb/content/20160706/Articel01007GN.htm

Video: Demosistō activist Oscar Lai ousts his two “minders” during democracy protest, takes selfie
Hong Kong Free Press, July 8, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/07/08/video-demosisto-activist-oscar-lai-ousts-his-two-minders-during-protest-takes-selfie/

China’s disturbing detention of Hong Kong booksellers
The Diplomat, July 7, 2016
http://thediplomat.com/2016/07/chinas-disturbing-detention-of-hong-kong-booksellers/

中國內地派至香港的特工疑增多 (Mainland China allegedly has sent more agents to Hong Kong)
Radio France Internationale, July 5, 2016
http://trad.cn.rfi.fr/中國/20160705-中國內地派至香港的特工疑增多

Thursday, July 07, 2016

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Wives of detained human rights lawyers in China fight on a year after husbands held by authorities
South China Morning Post, July 7, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1986569/wives-detained-human-rights-lawyers-china-fight-year

Related:
Shanshan's Year: anguish of jailed lawyers' families laid bare in Chinese film
The Guardian, July 7, 2016
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jul/07/shanshans-year-anguish-of-jailed-lawyers-families-laid-bare-in-chinese-film

China to release human rights worker Zhao Wei on bail after a year of detention
The Guardian, July 7, 2016
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jul/07/china-to-release-human-rights-worker-zhao-wei-on-bail-after-a-year-of-detention

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

Rights group demands release of U.S. businesswoman held by China for alleged spying
South China Morning Post, July 6, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/1986122/rights-group-demands-release-us-businesswoman-held

Related:
China chides U.N. group over criticism of “arbitrary” detention
Reuters, July 6, 2016
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-rights-un-idUSKCN0ZM16L

Family of “rebel Chinese village” chief refuses to recognize gov’t appointed lawyers
Hong Kong Free Press, July 6, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/07/06/family-of-rebel-chinese-village-chief-refuses-to-recognise-govt-appointed-lawyers/

Access to Information (信息公开)

China says facing flood of online info distorting party history
Reuters, July 6, 2016
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-party-idUSKCN0ZM0DT

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

The man who keeps tally of protests in China
China Change, July 6, 2016
https://chinachange.org/2016/07/06/the-man-who-keeps-tally-of-protests-in-china/

Strikes continue unabated in China during first half of the year
China Labor Bulletin, July 7, 2016
http://www.clb.org.hk/content/strikes-continue-unabated-china-during-first-half-year

Government Accountability (政府问责)

联合国人权理事会通过保障网络自由草案 中国受到国际谴责 (United Nations Human Rights Council passes resolution for protecting Internet freedom, China denounced by international community)
Radio Free Asia, July 6, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/meiti/xl1-07062016095100.html

China’s communist cadre cradle pledges not to rock party boat after teachers rapped for “spreading Western values”
South China Morning Post, July 6, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1986359/chinas-communist-cadre-cradle-pledges-not-rock-party

China charges Tiananmen massacre alcohol label activists with “inciting subversion of state power”
Hong Kong Free Press, July 7, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/07/07/china-charges-tiananmen-massacre-alcohol-label-activists-with-inciting-subversion-of-state-power/

Decision, maybe momentous, nears in case China has tried to ignore
南海仲裁对中国的真正考验
The New York Times, July 7, 2016
EN: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/07/world/asia/china-hague-philippines-spratlys.html
CH: http://cn.nytimes.com/china/20160707/china-hague-philippines-spratlys/

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

Xinjiang imposes selective fasting ban amid terror crackdown
China Digital Times, July 6, 2016
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2016/07/china-imposes-selective-fasting-ban-amid-terror-fear/

Related:
In western China, authorities grapple with how to handle Ramadan
The Washington Post, July 5, 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/in-western-china-authorities-grapple-with-how-to-handle-ramadan/2016/07/05/b06c59aa-3e09-11e6-9e16-4cf01a41decb_story.html

Hong Kong (香港)

Bookseller Lam Wing-kee “relieved” after police agree to protect him, says lawmaker
Hong Kong Free Press, July 6, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/07/06/bookseller-lam-wing-kee-relieved-after-police-agree-to-protect-him-says-lawmaker/

香港书商抓捕问题 北京香港各说各话 (Hong Kong booksellers taken away and detained, Beijing and Hong Kong talk past each other)
Voice of America, July 6, 2016
http://www.voachinese.com/a/news-hongkong-bookseller-20160706/3405984.html

Opinion and Editorial (观点和社论)

On cross-border detention, Hong Kong and mainland China must strive for greater progress
South China Morning Post, July 6, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1986330/cross-border-detention-hong-kong-and-mainland-china-must