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, August 15, 2016

Access to Justice (司法公正)

In international spotlight, China convicts human right lawyers and activists on “subversion” charges
Global Voices, August 12, 2016
https://globalvoices.org/2016/08/12/in-international-spotlight-china-convicts-human-right-lawyers-and-activists-on-subversion-charges/

Related:
Chinese activists' families face house arrest, travel bans: Lawyers
Radio Free Asia, August 12, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/chinese-activists-families-face-house-arrest-travel-bans-lawyers-08122016113741.html

Wife and relatives issue statement over torture of rights lawyer Xie Yang in Changsha
China Change, August 14, 2016
https://chinachange.org/2016/08/14/wife-and-relatives-issue-statement-over-torture-of-rights-lawyer-xie-yang-in-changsha/

Mass Crackdown on Chinese Lawyers, Defenders and International Reactions: A Brief Chronology
Human Rights in China, August 11, 2016
http://www.hrichina.org/en/mass-crackdown-chinese-lawyers-defenders-and-international-reactions-brief-chronology

Champion of human rights in China leaves a tarnished legacy
The New York Times, August 14, 2016
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/14/us/champion-of-human-rights-in-china-leaves-a-tarnished-legacy.html

Access to Information (信息公开)

A year after the Tianjin blast, public mourning and discussion about it are still censored in China
Quartz, August 12, 2016
http://qz.com/756872/a-year-after-the-tianjin-blast-public-mourning-and-discussion-about-it-are-still-censored-in-china/

Minitrue: Delete article on nuclear project suspension
China Digital Times, August 11, 2016
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2016/08/minitrue-delete-article-lianyungang-nuclear-suspension/

Why do China’s leaders holiday in secret?
中国领导人为何从不公开度假消息
South China Morning Post, August 13, 2016
EN: http://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/2003023/why-do-chinas-leaders-holiday-secret
CH: http://www.nanzao.com/sc/opinion/1568c7ed5a170c3/zhong-guo-ling-dao-ren-wei-he-cong-bu-gong-kai-du-jia-xiao-xi

“炎黄春秋”新版被指冒牌货 (New version of “Yanhuang Chunqiu” criticized as “counterfeit”)
Voice of America, August 15, 2016
http://www.voachinese.com/a/news-outspoken-magazine-complained-beijing-forcefully-taken-over-abd-faked-by-authorities-20160815/3464829.html

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

民间人权报告: 7月363人受到维稳和打压 (Civil society human rights report: 363 people silenced or repressed in July)
Radio Free Asia, August 12, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/ql2-08122016100808.html

More openly gay Olympians than ever, but no Chinese among them
奥运会“出柜”选手创纪录,无一来自中国
The New York Times, August 13, 2016
EN: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/13/world/asia/olympics-china-gay-athletes.html
CH: http://cn.nytstyle.com/culture/20160815/olympics-china-gay-athletes/

China cracks down on “toadies” celebrating former president Jiang
Financial Times, August 15, 2016
https://www.ft.com/content/273fce40-61dc-11e6-a08a-c7ac04ef00aa

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Tianjin chemical blast: Deadly disaster marked one year on
British Broadcasting Corporation, August 12, 2016
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-37019025

Related:
Has China failed to learn the lessons of deadly Tianjin explosions?
South China Morning Post, August 12, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/2002987/has-china-failed-learn-lessons-deadly-tianjin-explosions

One year after Tianjin, power plant explosion kills at least 21
China Labor Bulletin, August 12, 2016
http://www.clb.org.hk/content/one-year-after-tianjin-power-plant-explosion-kills-least-21

Chief of staff to Chinese president reveals details surrounding purge in secretariat
South China Morning Post, August 12, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2003042/chief-staff-chinese-president-reveals-details

Authorities in Chinese cities try to reassure public over nuclear fuel reprocessing plant
South China Morning Post, August 13, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/2003415/authorities-chinese-cities-try-reassure-public-over-nuclear-fuel

人权组织呼吁G20峰会关注中国人权 (Human rights organization urges leaders to pay attention to China’s human rights situation at G20 summit)
Voice of America, August 15, 2016
http://www.voachinese.com/a/g20-china-rights-20160815/3464533.html

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

7 years of “China’s Twitter”
Tech in Asia, August 14, 2016
https://www.techinasia.com/7-years-of-weibo-china-social-media

Internet or splinternet?
Al Jazeera, August 12, 2016
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2016/08/internet-splinternet-160810110930364.html

Hong Kong (香港)

Hong Kong student Joshua Wong avoids jail over pro-democracy protest
The Guardian, August 15, 2016
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/15/hong-kong-student-joshua-wong-avoids-jail-over-pro-democracy-protest

Surge in Hong Kong students applying to mainland universities contrasts sharply with anti-China sentiment
香港学生申请内地大学比例10年升10倍
South China Morning Post, August 14, 2016
EN: http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/2003819/number-hong-kong-students-applying-mainland-china
CH: http://www.nanzao.com/sc/hk-macau-tw/1568d197dc9979d/xiang-gang-xue-sheng-shen-qing-nei-di-da-xue-bi-li-10-sheng-10-bei

Teachers warned they could lose qualifications for advocating independence in schools
Hong Kong Free Press, August 15, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/08/15/teachers-warned-lose-qualifications-advocating-independence-schools/

Opinion and Editorial (观点和社论)

Mo Zhixu on the “great subversion case”
China Digital Times, August 12, 2016
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2016/08/mo-zhixu-great-subversion-case/

Tianjin firefighter: “The blast that killed my team”
British Broadcasting Corporation, August 12, 2016
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-37046940

Pushing politics: Why China is supercharging dissident trials
The Wall Street Journal, August 12, 2016
http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2016/08/12/subversion-sells-why-china-is-playing-up-dissident-trials/

The Communist Party of China's recipe for success
The Diplomat, August 12, 2016
http://thediplomat.com/2016/08/the-communist-party-of-chinas-recipe-for-success/

A writer’s quest to unearth the roots of Tibet’s unrest
The New York Times, August 15, 2016
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/15/world/asia/china-tibet-lhasa-jianglin-li.html

何清涟:一封写错收信人的联名信 (He Qinglian: A joint letter with a wrong addressee)
Voice of America, August 14, 2016
http://www.voachinese.com/a/heqinglian-blog-20160813/3463232.html

Friday, August 12, 2016

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Sichuan detains dying miner fighting for compensation
China Labor Bulletin, August 11, 2016
http://www.clb.org.hk/content/sichuan-detains-dying-miner-fighting-compensation

China extends pretrial detention of rights activist again
Radio Free Asia, August 11, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/extends-08112016132720.html

The judicial system. Suppress and support
The Economist, August 11, 2016
http://www.economist.com/news/china/21704849-communist-party-cracks-down-political-activists-even-it-eases-up-some-less-sensitive

Related:
Mass Crackdown on Chinese Lawyers, Defenders and International Reactions: A Brief Chronology
Human Rights in China, August 8, 2016
http://www.hrichina.org/en/mass-crackdown-chinese-lawyers-defenders-and-international-reactions-brief-chronology

屏南县检察院办理首例强制医疗申请案件 (Pingnan County procuratorate handles first application for compulsory medical treatment)
Sina News, August 9, 2016
http://news.sina.com.cn/o/2016-08-09/doc-ifxuszpp3226786.shtml

江苏国税向跨国公司发函:考虑中国立场,留下合理利润 (Jiangsu Tax Office issues memo to multinationals: Think about China’s position, leave behind fair profits)
21st Century Business Herald, August 9, 2016
http://epaper.21jingji.com/html/2016-08/10/content_44866.htm

公安部等八部门发布公告规范居民身份证使用管理: 不得擅自复印扫描居民身份证 (Ministry of Public Security and 78 other departments issue rules on use of citizen ID cards: Unofficial copying or scanning is not allowed)
Legal Daily, August 11, 2016
http://epaper.legaldaily.com.cn/fzrb/content/20160811/Articel01003GN.htm

干货!看懂北京积分落户政策须了解这10大问题 (The skinny! To understand Beijing's points-based residential settlement policy, you must understand these 10 big questions)
Xinhua, August 11, 2016
http://news.sohu.com/20160811/n463784544.shtml

向家庭暴力说不,邯郸发首张“人身安全保护令” (Say no to domestic violence: Handan county, Hebei, issues first personal protection order)
Xinhua, August 11, 2016
http://he.xinhuanet.com/hbGongyi/20160811/3364681_c.html

Access to Information (信息公开)

The East is pink. As online mobs get rowdier, they also get a label
The Economist, August 11, 2016
http://www.economist.com/news/china/21704853-online-mobs-get-rowdier-they-also-get-label-east-pink

民政部:不履行信息公开义务的社会团体将被列入异常名录 (Ministry of Civil Affairs: Social organizations that fail to implement their information disclosure obligations will be put on list of “non-conformist organizations”)
Xinhua, August 1, 2016
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2016-08/01/c_1119316078.htm

Government Accountability (政府问责)

德利乌斯:中国的人权状况继续加速恶化 (Society for Threatened Peoples International: Deterioration of human rights situation in China continues to accelerate)
Radio Free Asia, August 11, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/gr-08112016103332.html

美國國務院第18次發表國際宗教自由報告 (U.S. State Department issues 18th international religious freedom report)
Radio France Internationale, August 11, 2016
http://trad.cn.rfi.fr/中國/20160811-美國國務院第18次發表國際宗教自由報告

Related:
Release of the 2015 annual report on international freedom (IRF)
U.S. Department of State, August 10, 2016
http://www.state.gov/s/d/2016d/260953.htm

Larung Gar monks, nuns forced to return to their family homes
Radio Free Asia, August 11, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/return-08112016152026.html

Shattered glass, broken promises a year after Tianjin blasts
Agence France Presse, August 11, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/08/11/shattered-glass-broken-promises-year-tianjin-blasts/

Related:
Tianjin disaster still scars firefighters’ families and friends one year on
South China Morning Post, August 11, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2002312/tianjin-disaster-still-scars-firefighters-families-and

The difficulties of moving millions of people
The Wall Street Journal, August 11, 2016
http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2016/08/11/the-difficulties-of-moving-millions-of-people/

Chinese official denies report of shooting during anti-nuke protests
Radio Free Asia, August 11, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/denies-08112016114232.html

纠正冤假错案必须追责到底 (Correcting miscarriages of justice requires pursuing responsible parties to the very end)
Legal Daily, August 9, 2016
http://epaper.legaldaily.com.cn/fzrb/content/20160811/Articel01005GN.htm

钱仁风获国家赔偿172万:赔偿金是如何计算的? (Qian Renfeng obtained RMB 1.72M: How was the compensation sum calculated?)
Xinhua, August 11, 2016
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2016-08/09/c_129217119.htm

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

Business groups slam China's draft cybersecurity rules
South China Morning Post, August 12, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/economy/article/2002550/business-groups-slam-chinas-draft-cybersecurity-rules

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

河南省三门峡警方开出河南省首张反恐罚单 (Police in Sanmenxia, Henan, issue first counter-terrorism infringement notice)
Henan Daily, August 11, 2016
http://www.ha.xinhuanet.com/news/20160811/3363853_c.html

Hong Kong (香港)

“System upgrade”? China visa suspended for foreign visitors entering Guangdong via Hong Kong
South China Morning Post, August 11, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2002040/system-upgrade-china-visa-suspended-foreign-visitors-entering

港大逾六成學生支持港獨大公報斥等同鼓吹殺人強姦 (Over 60% of HKU students support Hong Kong independence in a school publication survey—pro-Beijing newspaper Takungpao denounces the “abuse of freedom of speech” on this matter by comparing it with advocating murder and rape)
Radio France Internationale, August 12, 2016
http://trad.cn.rfi.fr/中國/20160812-港大逾六成學生支持港獨大公報斥等同鼓吹殺人強姦

Related:
【港獨爭拗】環時斥《學苑》教唆與內地玉石俱焚 引港律師指言論犯刑事應檢控 ([Dispute over Hong Kong independence] Global Times denounces HKUSU publication Undergrad for instigating Hong Kong independence “at all cost”, quotes a Hong Kong lawyer’s opinion to claim it as a criminal offence to be charged)
Ming Pao, August 12, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20160812/s00001/1470989162817

【里約奧運】本土派旺角直播中港賽事 大公報:直播藏「獨」心,「撐自己人」是別有用心 ([Rio Olympic Games] Localists organize live broadcast of Hong Kong-China competition in Mongkok—pro-Beijing newspaper Takungpao claims the activity as a covert advocacy for Hong Kong independence, “support our own people” slogan has ulterior motive)
Ming Pao, August 12, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20160812/s00001/1470962299710

Opinion and Editorial (观点和社论)

The future of China’s legal system
ChinaFile, August 11, 2016
http://www.chinafile.com/viewpoint/future-of-chinas-legal-system

Global Times editor Hu Xijin on U.S.-China relations, press freedom in China, and the June 4 protests
《環球時報》主編胡錫進談中美關係、中國的新聞自由,與他親歷的六四
Quartz, August 9, 2016
EN: http://qz.com/741931/qza-with-hu-xijin-editor-in-chief-of-global-times/
CH: http://bit.ly/2aPFtxs

Is big data increasing Beijing’s capacity for control?
ChinaFile, August 10, 2016
http://www.chinafile.com/conversation/Is-Big-Data-Increasing-Beijing-Capacity-Control%3F

港獨是孤立現象嗎?(文:盧斯達) (Is support for Hong Kong independence an isolated phenomenon?)
Ming Pao, August 12, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20160812/s00022/1470968687796

Thursday, August 11, 2016

Access to Justice (司法公正)

China's crackdown on dissent is described as the harshest in decades
Los Angeles Times, August 10, 2016
http://www.latimes.com/world/asia/la-fg-china-crackdown-snap-story.html

Wife of detained lawyer accuses Beijing police of harassment
Voice of America, August 10, 2016
http://www.voanews.com/content/wife-detained-lawyer-accuses-beijing-police-harassment/3459349.html

Related:
Mass Crackdown on Chinese Lawyers, Defenders and International Reactions: A Brief Chronology
Human Rights in China, August 8, 2016
http://www.hrichina.org/en/mass-crackdown-chinese-lawyers-defenders-and-international-reactions-brief-chronology

图解:周世锋等4人犯颠覆国家政权罪被判刑,他们到底干了什么? (Illustration: Zhou Shifeng and the gang sentenced for inciting subversion of state power—what did they actually do?)
People’s Daily, August 11, 2016
http://politics.people.com.cn/n1/2016/0811/c1001-28629642.html

佛山维权人士苏昌兰、陈启棠审讯再被延期 (Foshan rights defenders Su Changlan and Chen Qitang trials postponed again)
Radio Free Asia, August 10, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/ql1-08102016113803.html

Access to Information (信息公开)

Amid crackdown, China's last liberal magazine fights for survival
National Public Radio, August 10, 2016
http://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2016/08/10/489318226/amid-crackdown-chinas-last-liberal-magazine-fights-for-survival

The Global Times, China’s feisty state tabloid, relies on “foreign experts” to sell China to the world
Quartz, August 9, 2016
http://qz.com/748244/the-foreign-experts-inside-chinas-feisty-state-tabloid-the-global-times/

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Chinese city backs down on proposed nuclear fuel plant after protests
迫于民众抗议压力,连云港暂停核废料厂项目
The New York Times, August 11, 2016
EN: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/11/world/asia/china-nuclear-fuel-lianyungang.html
CH: http://cn.nytimes.com/china/20160811/china-nuclear-fuel-lianyungang/

Chinese police detain eight ethnic Mongolians amid dispute over grassland
内蒙古数百特警驱散抗议牧民8人被捕
Radio Free Asia, August 10, 2016
EN: http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/china-herders-08102016134548.html
CH: http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shaoshuminzu/ql2-08102016113727.html

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Chinese lawmaker claims 130m yuan compensation from police for “illegal” detention
South China Morning Post, August 11, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2002306/chinese-lawmaker-claims-130m-yuan-compensation-police

The Chinese Communist Party International Department: Overlooked yet ever present
The Diplomat, August 8, 2016
http://thediplomat.com/2016/08/the-chinese-communist-party-international-department-overlooked-yet-ever-present/

Former Communist Party chief of Liaoning province expelled over alleged election graft
South China Morning Post, August 10, 2016
scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2002004/former-communist-party-chief-liaoning-province-expelled

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

Netizen report: In China and the Middle East, Pokémon Go is not all fun and games
Global Voices, August 4, 2016
https://globalvoices.org/2016/08/04/netizen-report-in-china-and-the-middle-east-pokemon-go-is-not-all-fun-and-games/

Hong Kong (香港)

Dear Hong Kong activists, please stop telling everyone Telegram is secure
Global Voices, August 9, 2016
https://advox.globalvoices.org/2016/08/09/dear-hong-kong-activists-please-stop-telling-everyone-telegram-is-secure/

Winning designs on human rights, Occupy protests replaced by blank pages in awards catalogue
Hong Kong Free Press, August 11, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/08/11/winning-designs-human-rights-occupy-protests-replaced-blank-pages-awards-catalogue/

Taking to the streets: localists plan live broadcast of Olympic badminton match between Hong Kong and China—on Mong Kok pavement
本土派組織擬旺角直播奧運中港羽毛球賽
South China Morning Post, August 11, 2016
EN: http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/2002213/taking-streets-localists-plan-live-broadcast
CH: http://www.nanzao.com/tc/hk-macau-tw/15678cc1f58d6a3/ben-tu-pai-zu-zhi-ni-wang-jiao-zhi-bo-ao-yun-zhong-gang-yu-mao-qiu-sai

“香港第一健笔”练乙铮因涉“港独”专栏被停 (Renowned Hong Kong commentator’s column cancelled because of “Hong Kong independence” contents)
Radio Free Asia, August 10, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/gangtai/cp-08102016114351.html