Access to Justice (司法公正)

Sweden condemns China's “brutal” detention of bookseller Gui Minhai
The Guardian, February 6, 2018
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/06/sweden-condemns-chinas-brutal-detention-of-bookseller-gui-minhai

Related:
“He might not have that much time left”: Daughter’s fears grow over bookseller Gui Minhai missing in China
Agence France-Presse, February 5, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/02/05/might-not-much-time-left-daughters-fears-grow-bookseller-gui-minhai-missing-china/

史庭福因宣讲六四真相而被“寻衅滋事罪”案将在2018年2月8日南京开庭审理 (Rights defender Shi Tingfu faces trial in Nanjing for “picking quarrels” after giving public speech about June Fourth)
Weiquanwang, February 6, 2018
http://wqw2010.blogspot.hk/2018/02/201828.html

Tibetan monk freed after five-year prison term for “politically sensitive” writings
青海藏人刑满获释后仍无人身自由
Radio Free Asia, February 5, 2018
EN: https://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/freed-02052018141331.html
CH: https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shaoshuminzu/dz-02052018104217.html

内蒙公安枪击致死以钱封口 遗孀揭尸检造假讨公道 (Inner Mongolia widow denies hush money, unveils fake autopsy report and demands justice for husband who was shot dead by police)
Radio Free Asia, February 5, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/gf1-02052018100445.html

李静瑜为丈夫李明哲案前往联合国 (Wife of jailed Taiwanese activist Lee Ming-che petitions at UN for support of husband’s release)
Radio Free Asia, February 5, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/gangtai/hcm-02052018103855.html

Chinese anti-censorship activist Zhen Jianghua denied access to lawyer
Hong Kong Free Press, February 5, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/02/05/chinese-anti-censorship-activist-zhen-jianghua-denied-access-lawyer/

Access to Information (信息公开)

一家书店的葬礼，和它告别的时代 (Funeral of a bookstore and the era it bids farewell to)
The Initium, February 6, 2018
https://theinitium.com/article/20180206-mainland-monsoon-bookstore/

浙江网信办关闭“叔叔不约”等一批违法违规网站及用户账号 (Zhejiang censors a group of “illegal” websites and social media accounts)
Zhejiang Branch of Cyberspace Administration of China, February 6, 2018
http://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_1985586

Related:
有偿删帖 有偿炒作——“网络水军”违法犯罪活动调查 (Crackdown on “Internet water army” has led to 200 arrests, shutdown of 5,000 Internet accounts and nearly 10,000 websites since May 2017)
Xinhua News Agency, February 4, 2018
http://www.xinhuanet.com/legal/2018-02/04/c_1122366587.htm

严格执法形成震慑 规范执法彰显法治——2017年全国网信行政执法工作扎实推进 (Cyberspace Administration of China reports “clear results” in 2017 administrative law enforcement work, including shutting down 22,587 websites, 3.17 million accounts and chat groups)
Cyberspace Administration of China, February 5, 2018
http://www.cac.gov.cn/2018-02/05/c_1122368756.htm

国家新闻出版广电总局关于《电影行政处罚裁量办法（征求意见稿）》公开征求意见的公告 (State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television solicits public opinions on draft of “Administrative Punishment Discretionary Measures for Films”, contents that damage national dignity, honor and social stability will result in heavy punishments)
State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television, February 2, 2018
http://zqyj.chinalaw.gov.cn/readmore?id=2377&listType=2

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

#MeToo with Chinese characteristics
The Atlantic, February 6, 2018
https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2018/02/metoo-in-china/552326/

律师申请会见余文生遭拒 千人联署促放人 (Over 1,000 sign petition urging release of rights lawyer Yu Wensheng)
Voice of America, February 5, 2018
https://www.voachinese.com/a/news-attorney-refused-to-visit-detained-yu-wensheng-20180205/4239387.html

Related:
律师发函公安部门查询高智晟下落 (Lawyers write letter to Ministry of Public Security asking for whereabouts of human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng)
Radio Free Asia, February 5, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/hdc-02052018101354.html

Government Accountability (政府问责)

首钢水钢公司煤气中毒致9死 安监总局通报存在问题 (Gas leak kills 9 at Guizhou steel mill as State Administration of Work Safety recognizes safety issues)
Chinanews.com, February 6, 2018
http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2018/02-06/8442292.shtml

State-run Chinese paper confident China will establish ties with Vatican
Reuters, February 6, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/2132205/state-run-chinese-paper-confident-china-will-establish

Related:
陳日君點名批教廷國務卿：內地教友最大痛苦 是遭「親人」負賣 (Former Bishop of Hong Kong Joseph Zen criticizes Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin for not understanding the suffering of mainland believers)
Mingpao, February 5, 2018
https://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20180205/s00001/1517828867312

河南周口50所民办学校遭关闭强拆 (Henan shuts down and demolishes over 50 private schools and kindergartens)
Radio Free Asia, February 5, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/kejiaowen/ql2-02052018095551.html

江西全面部署扫黑除恶工作 已抓获涉案人员1111人 (Jiangxi arrests 1,111 people amid fully-implemented “remove the black and eradicate the evil” campaign)
Xinhua News Agency, February 5, 2018
http://www.xinhuanet.com/2018-02/05/c_1122372781.htm

Related:
广东部署扫黑除恶，要建“全国最安全地区” (Guangdong pledges to become “the nation’s safest area” amid “remove the black and eradicate the evil” campaign)
China News Service, February 6, 2018
http://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_1985780

China boosts intellectual property protection – for its own tech at least
South China Morning Post, February 5, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/2132135/drones-dredgers-stop-chinas-top-tech-falling-foreign

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

刷脸进站、AI机器视觉 高科技助春运更快速便捷 (Guangzhou South Railway Station uses facial recognition on passengers during Spring Festival travel)
Legal Daily, February 5, 2018
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/index_article/content/2018-02/05/content_7468039.htm

Related:
逃犯无处可逃 全国铁路第一款人像比对警务眼镜投入实战 (Fugitives have nowhere to run as China's first wearable facial recognition device put to use by police at Henan high-speed railway station)
QQ.com, February 5, 2018
http://new.qq.com/omn/20180205/20180205A0MBQ8.html#p=1

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

China’s meddling poses greater threat to EU than Kremlin, says study
Politico. February 5, 2018
https://www.politico.eu/article/chinas-meddling-poses-greater-threat-to-eu-than-kremlin-says-study/

Related:
Authoritarian advance: Responding to China’s growing political influence in Europe
Mercator Institute for China Studies and the Global Public Policy Institute, February 5, 2018
https://www.merics.org/sites/default/files/2018-02/GPPi_MERICS_Authoritarian_Advance_2018_1.pdf

Is China inflicting a “century of humiliation” on the world?
The Diplomat, February 4, 2018
https://thediplomat.com/2018/02/is-china-inflicting-a-century-of-humiliation-on-the-world/

Hong Kong (香港)

Hong Kong democracy activists Joshua Wong, Alex Chow, Nathan Law free to go after Occupy sentence appeal
Hong Kong Free Press, February 6, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/02/06/breaking-hong-kong-democracy-activists-joshua-wong-alex-chow-nathan-law-free-go-occupy-sentence-appeal/

Journalism NGO reports “unprecedented hardship” for Hong Kong’s media industry and “bleak” trends in China
Hong Kong Free Press, February 6, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/02/06/journalism-ngo-reports-unprecedented-hardship-hong-kongs-media-industry-bleak-trends-china/

Election ban rules “very clear”, Carrie Lam insists, but says government will “seriously consider” clarifying them if needed
South China Morning Post, February 6, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2132202/election-ban-rules-very-clear-carrie-lam-insists-says

Related:
Embattled Demosisto party hangs large black banners protesting banning of Hong Kong by-election candidates
Hong Kong Free Press, February 5, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/02/05/embattled-demosisto-party-hangs-large-black-banners-protesting-banning-hong-kong-election-candidates/

In Pictures: Hong Kong students in UK protest banning of pro-democracy candidates from by-election
Hong Kong Free Press, February 5, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/02/05/pictures-hong-kong-students-uk-protest-banning-pro-democracy-candidates-election/

林鄭月娥冀議員盡快完成審議及落實一地兩檢條例草案 (Carrie Lam urges lawmakers to review draft co-location arrangement and implement it ASAP)
Radio Television Hong Kong, February 5, 2018
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1379269-20180205.htm

Commentary (评论)

曲蕃夫：特雷莎·梅访华与褪色的中英“黄金时代” (May’s China trip and the faded “Gold Age” of Sino-British relations)
The Initium, February 6, 2018
https://theinitium.com/article/20180206-international-qiu-theresa-may/

Hong Kong’s Nobel nominees should aim for the bigger prize: democracy, not “self-determination” from China
South China Morning Post, February 5, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2132031/hong-kongs-nobel-nominees-should-aim-bigger-prize-democracy

Hong Kong’s courts have defended its freedoms. Is Beijing changing that?
北京重压下，香港司法系统能继续捍卫自由吗？
The New York Times, February 5, 2018
EN: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/05/world/asia/china-hong-kong-courts.html
CH: https://cn.nytimes.com/china/20180206/china-hong-kong-courts/

桂民海再被捕 只有一個原因 (There is only one reason for Gui Minhai getting arrested again)
Stand News, February 5, 2018
http://bit.ly/2BGMtIP

What it’s like to live in a surveillance state
新疆：天罗地网下的监控世界
The New York Times, February 3, 2018
EN: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/03/opinion/sunday/china-surveillance-state-uighurs.html
CH: https://cn.nytimes.com/opinion/20180205/china-surveillance-state-uighurs/

Access to Justice (司法公正)

狱中福建人权律师纪斯尊境况危殆 处于昏迷状态 靠输氧呼吸 无法正常交谈 (Jailed Fujian human rights lawyer Ji Sizun, in coma and critical conditions)
Weiquanwang, February 4, 2018
http://wqw2010.blogspot.hk/2018/02/blog-post_39.html

China, the Vatican and a controversial deal
British Broadcasting Corporation, February 4, 2018
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-42914029

吊销隋牧青律师证听证会今召开 各地律师、维权人士云集广州声援 (Guangzhou Justice Bureau hears Sui Muqing’s disbarment, lawyers and human rights defenders show up in solidarity)
Weiquanwang, February 3, 2018
http://wqw2010.blogspot.hk/2018/02/blog-post_89.html

Related:
关注隋牧青律师吊牌事件联署签名活动正式结束 联署达2,788人 (2,788 people join petition in protest against disbarment of Sui Muqing)
Weiquanwang, February 3, 2018
http://wqw2010.blogspot.hk/2018/02/2788.html

Access to Information (信息公开)

US YouTube users to see “gov’t funded” labels on China’s Xinhua, and US-backed RFA videos
Hong Kong Free Press, February 5, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/02/05/us-youtube-users-see-govt-funded-labels-chinas-xinhua-us-backed-rfa-videos/

Sudden change at the top of CCTV
China Media Project, February 4, 2018
http://chinamediaproject.org/2018/02/02/sudden-change-at-the-top-of-china-central-television/

China’s hip-hop haters turn their ire to “Hanmai”
China Film Insider, February 4, 2018
http://chinafilminsider.com/chinas-hip-hop-haters-turn-ire-hanmai/

国家网信办等六部委联合整治炒作明星绯闻隐私和娱乐八卦 (Six ministries move against online providers of “vulgar” entertainment, gossips on celebrity scandals)
Cyberspace Administration of China, February 2, 2018
http://www.cac.gov.cn/2018-02/02/c_1122359930.htm

文化部：清理涉及经典革命歌曲的恶搞视频、音乐四千余条 (Ministry of Culture deletes 4,000 video and audios that spoof classic revolutionary songs)
Ministry of Culture, February 2, 2018
http://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_1981239

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

「青」入工運──青年參與者在1223反勞基法遊行的現場紀錄 (Youth in labor movement: A first-hand record of Taiwan Dec 23 Anti-Labor Law amendment rally)
The Initium, February 5, 2018
https://theinitium.com/article/20180202-opinion-nthu-1223-protest/

Government Accountability (政府问责)

2018年中央一号文件公布 近年来一号文件都说了些啥 (State Council issued the “No.1 Central Document”, continue its focus to the “three rural issues”)
The Beijing News, February 5, 2018
http://www.bjnews.com.cn/news/2018/02/05/475301.html

China expands battle against pollution to its top coal producing province
South China Morning Post, February 5, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/2131952/china-expands-battle-against-pollution-northwest-region

Decades after US immigration policy separated his family, a man searches for his ancestral village in China
Global Voices, February 4, 2018
https://globalvoices.org/2018/02/04/decades-after-us-immigration-policy-separated-his-family-a-man-searches-for-his-ancestral-village-in-china/

Theresa May, praised by Chinese media for her soft stance on human rights, gets roasted by British press
The Washington Post, February 3, 2018
https://goo.gl/9YjcmG

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

China cracks down on tech credit scoring
Financial Times, February 4, 2018
https://www.ft.com/content/f23e0cb2-07ec-11e8-9650-9c0ad2d7c5b5

Apple's China data center to open in 2020
Xinhua News Agency, February 4, 2018
http://english.sina.com/news/2018-02-04/detail-ifyremfz4548414.shtml

China’s swarms of smart drones have enormous military potential
The Diplomat, February 3, 2018
https://thediplomat.com/2018/02/chinas-swarms-of-smart-drones-have-enormous-military-potential/

National Security (国家安全和反恐)

China accuses US of “Cold War mentality” over nuclear policy
British Broadcasting Corporation, February 4, 2018
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-42935758

Related:
China’s plan to use artificial intelligence to boost the thinking skills of nuclear submarine commanders
South China Morning Post, February 5, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2131127/chinas-plan-use-artificial-intelligence-boost-thinking-skills

Hong Kong (香港)

”Political interference”: Hong Kong’s top leaders express “regret” over Umbrella Movement’s Nobel Peace Prize nomination
Hong Kong Free Press, February 5, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/02/05/political-interference-hong-kongs-top-leaders-express-regret-umbrella-movements-nobel-peace-prize-nomination/

Related:
Enemy of the state? Agnes Chow, the 21-year-old activist who has China worried
The Guardian, February 4, 2018
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/04/agnes-chow-hong-kong-activist-who-has-china-worried-democracy

Opposition to controversial national security law could become new reason for Legco election ban, Beijing adviser says
South China Morning Post, February 5, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2132013/opposition-controversial-national-security-law-could-become

Hong Kong government accused of lying to public over how many houses could be built on exclusive golf course
South China Morning Post, February 5, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/2131958/hong-kong-government-accused-lying-public-over-how

Is Beijing envoy’s personal travelogue a veiled boost for joint checkpoints at Hong Kong-mainland China link?
South China Morning Post, February 5, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2131957/beijing-envoys-personal-travelogue-veiled-boost-joint

Hong Kong democracy activists urge UK to release unseen files
The Guardian, February 4, 2018
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/04/hong-kong-democracy-activists-urge-uk-release-unseen-files-foreign-office

Withdraw outdated school sex education guidelines, Hong Kong lawmaker Ray Chan suggests
Hong Kong Free Press, February 4, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/02/04/withdraw-outdated-school-sex-education-guidelines-hong-kong-lawmaker-ray-chan-suggests/

Commentary (评论)

專權選舉的自由陰影 (Freedom under the shadow of authoritarian election)
Mingpao, February 5, 2018
https://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20180205/s00022/1517745344954

China’s credit ratings plan: from social media to medium of social control
South China Morning Post, February 5, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/2131737/chinas-credit-ratings-plan-social-media-medium-social-control

Related:
China's surveillance state should scare everyone
The Atlantic, February 5, 2018
https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2018/02/china-surveillance/552203/

Our hackable political future
The New York Times, February 4, 2018
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/04/opinion/hacking-politics-future.html

China’s “Residential Surveillance at a Designated Location” – a license to disappear, hold and torture dissenters
Hong Kong Free Press, February 4, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/02/04/chinas-residential-surveillance-designated-location-licence-disappear-hold-torture-dissenters/

Under neo-totalitarianism, there is no “civil society” in China
China Change, February 4, 2018
https://chinachange.org/2018/02/04/under-neo-totalitarianism-there-is-no-civil-society-in-china/

Journalism denied: How China views facts, fairness, transparency and objectivity in reporting
Hong Kong Free Press, February 4, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/02/04/journalism-denied-china-views-facts-fairness-transparency-objectivity-reporting/

Access to Justice (司法公正)

甄江华案通报：律师收到不准许会见决定书和不予变更强制措施通知书 目前指定居所监视居住 (Human rights defender Zhen Jianghua denied access to legal counsel and put under residential surveillance at designated location for inciting subversion)
Weiquanwang, February 2, 2018
http://wqw2010.blogspot.hk/2018/02/blog-post_28.html

广东反贪人士“惠州区伯”李建新案开审 家属公民旁听受阻 (Li Jianxin, man fights against local-level corruption, faces racketeering charges in Guangdong, as some family members and citizens barred from entering courtroom)
Radio Free Asia, February 1, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/gf1-02012018104719.html

钱宝网实际控制人张小雷等人被依法执行逮捕 (Zhang Xiaolei, man behind busted pyramid scheme, and others formally arrested)
The Beijing News, February 1, 2018
http://www.bjnews.com.cn/news/2018/02/01/474953.html

Germany calls for release of Chinese human rights lawyer arrested for inciting subversion
Reuters, February 1, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2131540/germany-calls-release-chinese-human-rights-lawyer

Access to Information (信息公开)

微博客信息服务管理规定 (CAC releases Microblog Information Service Management Regulations in line with Cybersecurity Law and Internet News Information Service Management Regulations)
Cybersecurity Administration of China, February 2, 2018
http://www.cac.gov.cn/2018-02/02/c_1122358726.htm

广东省网信办约谈UC头条 社会、视频等四个频道暂时下线整改 (Guangdong authorities shut down 4 channels of UC Toutiao, the online news dissemination platform, for “hyping wrong-headed, vulgar, pornographic information”)
Southcn.com, February 1, 2018
http://www.cac.gov.cn/2018-02/01/c_1122355857.htm

Related:
文化部严肃查处恶搞《黄河大合唱》等红色经典视频，已下线3898条 (Ministry of Culture investigates spoofing of patriotic songs and censors 3,898 videos and 165 audios)
The Beijing News, February 2, 2018
http://www.bjnews.com.cn/news/2018/02/02/475078.html

華春瑩再爆金句 斥《產經》記者「來者不善」須自省 ( (Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman rebukes Japanese journalist over deteriorating environment for foreign media in China by saying “you have to self-reflect deeply”)
Mingpao, February 1, 2018
https://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20180201/s00004/1517492166215

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Rise of “morality schools” for Chinese women sparks outcry
Associated Press, February 2, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2131731/rise-morality-schools-chinese-women-sparks-outcry

河南一访民通过国家司法考试：上访14年后，开始学法用法 (Henan woman teaches herself law and passes National Judicial Exam after petitioning for 14 years)
China Youth Daily, February 1, 2018
http://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_1978640

西咸新区龙安居业主：我们到陕西省政府省人大请愿 (Store owners petition at government and NPC in Shaanxi asking for refund of project that remains unfinished for years)
Weiquanwang, February 1, 2018
http://wqw2010.blogspot.hk/2018/02/blog-post_46.html

Government Accountability (政府问责)

China commends Theresa May for “sidestepping” human rights
The Guardian, February 2, 2018
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/02/china-commends-visiting-theresa-may-for-sidestepping-human-rights

China brings nearly 13 mln people out of poverty in 2017 - Xinhua
Reuters, February 2, 2018
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/china-brings-nearly-13-mln-people-out-of-poverty-in-2017---xinhua-9919026