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.

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Access to Information (信息公开)

Minitrue: Filter keywords on “Xi Jinping beetle”
China Digital Times, July 12, 2016
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2016/07/minitrue-5/

Chinese state media melt down over South China Sea ruling
The Washington Post, July 12, 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/07/12/chinese-state-media-melt-down-over-south-china-sea-ruling/

Related:
China censors coverage of South China Sea ruling
Hong Kong Free Press, July 12, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/07/12/china-censors-coverage-of-south-china-sea-ruling/

Reading the “Nine-Dash” line
China Media Project, July 12, 2016
http://cmp.hku.hk/2016/07/12/39819/

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Larung Gar leaders urge calm as demolition appears set to proceed
Radio Free Asia, July 12, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/calm-07122016125946.html

Government Accountability (政府问责)

China’s Xi Jinping rejects any action based on international court’s South China Sea ruling
South China Morning Post, July 12, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/1988990/chinas-xi-jinping-rejects-any-action-based

Related:
Beijing blames Philippines for South China Sea trouble
Al Jazeera, July 13, 2016
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/07/beijing-blames-philippines-south-china-sea-trouble-160713041125894.html

11 detained after woman, 60, died in forced demolition of her home
South China Morning Post, July 13, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/1989313/11-detained-after-woman-60-died-forced-demolition-her-home

“国际声援西藏”批评“拉萨共识”一些外国学者支持中国的宣传 (The International Campaign for Tibet criticizes “Lhasa Consensus” and some academics’ support for China’s propaganda)
Radio Free Asia, July 12, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shaoshuminzu/nu-07122016115757.html

台湾公民团体联署呼吁习近平释放709维权律师 (Taiwan civil societies joint petition calls on Xi Jinping to release 709 crackdown lawyers)
Radio Free Asia, July 12, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/hx-07122016115010.html

Hong Kong (香港)

廉署又一高管離職梁振英三緘其口欲蓋彌彰 (Another ICAC high ranked official quits, tight-lipped CY Leung makes it more conspicuous)
Radio France Internationale, July 13, 2016
http://trad.cn.rfi.fr/政治/20160713-廉署又一高管離職梁振英三緘其口欲蓋彌彰

Returned bookseller says he believes others will be released after colleague’s sentencing later this year
Hong Kong Free Press, July 12, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/07/12/returned-bookseller-says-he-believes-others-will-be-released-after-colleagues-sentencing-later-this-year/

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Mystery, concern spread with release of Chinese activist
Reuters, July 11, 2016
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-rights-idUSKCN0ZR0S2

Related:
Young Chinese legal activist “regrets” civil rights activism
South China Morning Post, July 11, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1988501/young-chinese-legal-activist-regrets-civil-rights

Lawyer for legal assistant Zhao Wei is detained over sexual assault rumors
Radio Free Asia, July 11, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/china-lawyer-07112016162107.html

VOA连线: 赵威丈夫不能证明她目前是否完全获得自由 (Zhao Wei husband cannot prove if she really has freedom now)
Voice of America, July 12, 2016
http://www.voachinese.com/a/connect-you-minglei-20160711/3413739.html

Chinese rights lawyers demand immediate release of colleague
VOA连线常伯阳: 维权律师联名签署声明抗议任全牛律师因言获罪
Voice of America, July 11, 2016
EN: http://www.voanews.com/content/chinese-rights-lawyers-demand-immediate-release-of-colleague/3413103.html
CH: http://www.voachinese.com/a/voaconnect-20160711-renquan-niu-protests/3413211.html

Access to Information (信息公开)

Crowd control: The views of Chinese people matter—but only up to a point
The Economist, July 9, 2016
http://www.economist.com/news/special-report/21701652-views-chinese-people-matterbut-only-up-toa-point-crowd-control

A new species of beetle named after President Xi is blacklisted on Chinese social media
Global Voices, July 11, 2016
https://globalvoices.org/2016/07/11/a-new-species-of-beetle-named-after-president-xi-is-blacklisted-on-chinese-social-media/

Indian firms most transparent, Chinese firms most opaque: Transparency International
The Hindu, July 11, 2016
http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/indian-firms-most-transparent-chinese-firms-most-opaque-transparency-international/article8835148.ece

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

金馬獎藏族導演被拘後首回應 正在醫院治療 要求「一個說法」 (Golden Horse Award laureate Tibetan director first talks after arrest, hospitalized, asking for “an explanation”)
Ming Pao, July 12, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20160712/s00004/1468293462363

西藏人权组织呼吁中国政府释放扎西旺秀 (Tibetan rights organization urges Chinese government to release Tibetan language rights campaigner)
Radio Free Asia, July 11, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shaoshuminzu/dz-07112016112007.html

瑞典維權義工達林首披露在中國被囚細節:房間牆有厚墊 「認罪」片與央視員工均照稿讀 (Swedish rights defense volunteer Dahlin first reveals details of being detained in China: room walls heavily carpeted, “confession” video and CCTV reportage all scripted)
Ming Pao, July 11, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20160712/s00004/1468254265750

Government Accountability (政府问责)

False hope? China's military hospitals offer illegal experimental cures
Reuters, July 11, 2016
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-hospitals-insight-idUSKCN0ZR0BW

EU must push China on human rights, with or without the UK
The Diplomat, July 12, 2016
http://thediplomat.com/2016/07/eu-must-push-china-on-human-rights-with-or-without-the-uk/

Of course China, like all great powers, will ignore an international legal verdict
The Diplomat, July 11, 2016
http://thediplomat.com/2016/07/of-course-china-like-all-great-powers-will-ignore-an-international-legal-verdict/

China believes it is the real victim in the South China Sea dispute
The Washington Post, July 11, 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2016/07/11/china-believes-it-is-the-real-victim-in-the-south-china-sea-dispute/

Tribunal overwhelmingly rejects Beijing's South China Sea claims
Reuters, July 12, 2016
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-southchinasea-ruling-stakes-idUSKCN0ZS02U

Related:
中国:海牙法庭南海仲裁无效及无约束力 (China: The Hague’s ruling on South China Sea is ineffective and non-legally binding)
British Broadcasting Corporation, July 12, 2016
http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/china/2016/07/160712_southchinasea_reaction

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

The Internet was supposed to foster democracy. China has different ideas.
Washington Post, July 10, 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/the-internet-was-supposed-to-foster-democracy-china-has-different-ideas/2016/07/10/42954bbc-1dd9-11e6-b6e0-c53b7ef63b45_story.html

Hong Kong (香港)

Hong Kong’s memorial museum for Tiananmen Square Massacre closes
Hong Kong Free Press, July 12, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/07/12/memorial-museum-for-tiananmen-square-massacre-closes-indefinitely/

Gov’t and Red Cross deny claims that Hong Kong-donated blood and organs are sent to China
Hong Kong Free Press, July 11, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/07/11/govt-and-red-cross-deny-claims-that-hong-kong-donated-blood-and-organs-are-sent-to-china/

Democratic Party says ICAC revamp could be related to UGL probe
Economic Journal, July 11, 2016
http://www.ejinsight.com/20160711-democratic-party-says-icac-revamp-could-be-related-to-ugl-probe/

Opinion and Editorial (观点和社论)

Like it or not, UNCLOS arbitration is legally binding for China
East Asia Forum, July 11, 2016
http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2016/07/11/like-it-or-not-unclos-arbitration-is-legally-binding-for-china/

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