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, March 21, 2018

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Chinese rights activists fearful as policeman takes charge of legal affairs
Reuters, March 21, 2018
https://goo.gl/ozEfPJ

Related:
Chinese dissident and official trade barbs at UN human rights meeting
The Guardian, March 20, 2018
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/20/chinese-dissident-and-official-trade-barbs-at-un-human-rights-meeting

China sets up state monitoring agency with sweeping powers to detain
新《国家监察法》威胁中国基本人权
Radio Free Asia, March 20, 2018
EN: https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/powers-03202018151434.html
CH: https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/nu-03202018105808.html

Tibetan man detained after villagers protest Chinese mine plans
Radio Free Asia, March 20, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/mine-03202018170709.html

陕西安康一男子篡改歌曲讥讽交警并发到微信群,被行政拘留 (Shaanxi man detained for remixing a song to satirize police in WeChat)
The Paper, March 20, 2018
http://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_2035367

西安网警:一公众号发文歪曲事实损害警察形象,两人被罚款 (Xi’an public account administrator fined for publishing article that “damages” police image)
The Paper, March 20, 2018
http://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_2034855

Access to Information (信息公开)

A Beijing bookstore where George Washington is on the shelves
一家門口掛著《獨立宣言》的北京書店
The New York Times, March 20, 2018
EN: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/20/world/asia/beijing-bookstore-allsages.html
CH: https://goo.gl/dLjvjJ

今天起,电影管理工作划入中共中央宣传部 (Publicity Department of Communist Party to oversee China’s film sector)
Chinafilm.com, March 20, 2018
http://www.chinafilm.com/xyfx/4136.jhtml

Related:
China tightens grip on media with regulator reshuffle: Communist Party document
Reuters, March 21, 2018
https://goo.gl/s2pwDt

China approves giant propaganda machine to improve global image
Bloomberg, March 20, 2018
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-20/china-to-open-manufacturing-cut-tariffs-and-taxes-premier-says

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Professor accused of sexual abuse to resign, says University
Sixthtone, March 21, 2018
http://www.sixthtone.com/news/1001927/Professor%20Accused%20of%20Sexual%20Abuse%20to%20Resign,%20Says%20University

Tibet and India’s China policy
The Diplomat, March 20, 2018
https://thediplomat.com/2018/03/tibet-and-indias-china-policy/

Xi Jinping: How China's president got ahead, in hats
British Broadcasting Corporation, March 20, 2018
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-43480624

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

Yunnan to open first Biobank for ethnic minorities
Sixthtone, March 21, 2018
http://www.sixthtone.com/news/1001937/Yunnan%20to%20Open%20First%20Biobank%20for%20Ethnic%20Minorities

闯红灯,个人信息被当场曝光!网友吵翻,交警回应… (Shenzhen police release jaywalkers’ photos and personal information online, netizens debate right to privacy versus public safety)
China Youth Online, March 20, 2018
http://news.cyol.com/content/2018-03/20/content_17035552.htm

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

China trials unmanned tanks in latest modernization push
Reuters, March 21, 2018
https://goo.gl/ye9AGS

Xi Jinping tries to rally support for Chinese dream in nationalist speech
South China Morning Post, March 20, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2138112/xi-jinping-tries-rally-support-chinese-dream

Related:
China sends carrier through Taiwan Strait after Xi Jinping warning against separatism
Reuters, March 21, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/2138165/china-sends-carrier-through-taiwan-strait-after-xi

We are helping, not infiltrating other countries, says Chinese premier
The Sydney Morning Herald, March 20, 2018
https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/we-are-helping-not-infiltrating-other-countries-says-chinese-premier-20180320-p4z5b0.html

Hong Kong (香港)

Exco member Regina Ip upstages new lawmakers by chanting slogans at Legco swearing-in
South China Morning Post, March 21, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2138145/exco-member-regina-ip-upstages-new-lawmakers-chanting

Related:
Advocates of ending “one-party dictatorship” cannot serve in Hong Kong legislature, says Chinese official in Macau
Hong Kong Free Press, March 20, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/20/advocates-ending-one-party-dictatorship-cannot-serve-hong-kong-legislature-says-chinese-official-macau/

Hong Kong’s top court clears the way for 13 land protesters to appeal
Hong Kong Free Press, March 21, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/21/hong-kongs-top-court-clears-way-13-land-protesters-appeal/

林鄭出席黨慶捐3萬 民主黨尹兆堅:不滿施政就拒邀請是極端 (Carrie Lam donates 30k to Democratic Party’s Gala, leader says “it would be too extreme" not to invite her)
Inmedia, March 21, 2018
https://www.inmediahk.net/node/1055904

66 per cent discount on land fees for Hong Kong’s elite sports clubs draws fire, but minister defends plan
South China Morning Post, March 21, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2138177/66-cent-discount-land-fees-hong-kongs-elite-sports-clubs

Commentary (评论)

一黨專政 (One Party dictatorship)
Mingpao, March 21, 2018
https://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20180321/s00022/1521563522911

補選後的香港民主派統合困局 (The political quagmire of Hong Kong's democratic camp post by-election)
The Initium, March 21, 2018
https://theinitium.com/article/20180321-opinion-mangok-311-hong-kong/

What the West doesn’t get about Xi Jinping
西方世界沒有讀懂習近平
The New York Times, March 20, 2018
EN: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/20/opinion/xi-jinping-china-west.html
CH: https://goo.gl/L7gzZB/

China: New Supervision Law a systemic threat to human rights
Amnesty International, March 20, 2018
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2018/03/china-new-supervision-law-threat-to-human-rights/

Xi Jinping: How China's president got ahead, in hats
British Broadcasting Corporation, March 20, 2018
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-43480624

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Xi Jinping tells parliament China must not be complacent
British Broadcasting Corporation, March 20, 2018
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-43466685

最高法:案件当事人婚姻登记等信息被纳入查询范围 (Supreme People’s Court and Ministry of Civil Affairs to share social credit information including marriage status, social organization registration, individual income, and a “blacklist of dishonest people or groups”)
The Paper, March 19, 2018
http://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_2033629

专访:用李明哲案件恐吓整个台湾 (China use Lee Ming-Che case to scary Taiwan)
Deutsche Welle, March 19, 2018
https://goo.gl/1uPXmg

Xinjiang authorities up detentions in Uyghur majority areas of Ghulja city
Radio Free Asia, March 19, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/uyghur/detentions-03192018151252.html

China improves social credit system
Xinhua News Agency, March 19, 2018
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201803/19/WS5aafcebea3106e7dcc14292d.html

浙江发布首起对编外人员使用监察留置措施案件 (Zhejiang Provincial Supervision Commission unprecedentedly “retains in custody” (liuzhi) a worker who is neither a Party member nor public servant)
Xinhua News Agency, March 16, 2018
http://www.xinhuanet.com/local/2018-03/16/c_1122548541.htm

Access to Information (信息公开)

Soldiers put on social credit blacklist for leaving service
Sixth Tone, March 19, 2018
http://www.sixthtone.com/news/1001938/Soldiers%20Put%20on%20Social%20Credit%20Blacklist%20for%20Leaving%20Service

India: Chinese hackers spying on Indians using WhatsApp, warns army
Deutsche Welle, March 19, 2018
http://www.dw.com/en/india-chinese-hackers-spying-on-indians-using-whatsapp-warns-army/a-43042013

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Detained Chinese environmental worker released after public outcry
环保人士调研广东信宜非法开采排污遭拘留
Radio Free Asia, March 19, 2018
EN: https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/release-03192018105728.html
CH: https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/huanjing/ql1-03192018103305.html

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Five important takeaways from China’s national people’s congress
The New York Times, March 19, 2018
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/19/world/asia/china-national-peoples-congress-xi-jinping.html

China's radical plan to limit the populations of Beijing and Shanghai
The Guardian, March 19, 2018
https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/mar/19/plan-big-city-disease-populations-fall-beijing-shanghai

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

Xi Jinping warns he is ready to “fight bloody battles” against China's enemies
The Guardian, March 20, 2018
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/20/xi-jinping-warns-fight-bloody-battles-chinas-enemies

The Taiwan travel act in context
The Diplomat, March 19, 2018
https://thediplomat.com/2018/03/the-taiwan-travel-act-in-context/

Hong Kong (香港)

Hongkongers may be barred from elections over “end one-party dictatorship” slogans, says top Beijing delegate
Hong Kong Free Press, March 20, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/20/hongkongers-may-barred-elections-end-one-party-dictatorship-slogan-says-top-beijing-delegate/

Related:
Hong Kong election disqualification for those who lobby against one-party rule a “betrayal” to city values
South China Morning Post, March 19, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2137916/hong-kong-election-disqualification-those-who-lobby-against

Hong Kong’s Chinese national anthem law “shouldn’t include rule for schools”, legal scholar says
South China Morning Post, March 19, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2137863/schools-clause-national-anthem-bill-will-undermine-law-warns

Related:
Insult China’s national anthem at your peril
Human Rights Watch, March 19, 2018
https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/03/19/insult-chinas-national-anthem-your-peril

年輕大狀陳偉彥:大律師本應無畏無懼 (Young Barrister Joe Chan says “Barrister should be fearless”)
Standnews, March 19, 2018
https://goo.gl/6sFjNA

Two Hong Kong activists admit roles in anti-Beijing protest, where crowds thronged liaison office and charged at officers
South China Morning Post, March 19, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/2137923/two-hong-kong-activists-admit-roles-anti-beijing-protest

Commentary (评论)

The voters speak, and surprise: Democrats no longer do “better than expected”
Hong Kong Free Press, March 20, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/20/voters-speak-surprise-democrats-no-longer-better-expected/

習近平會做「終身領導人」嗎? (Will Xi rule for life?)
The New York Times, March 20, 2018
https://cn.nytimes.com/opinion/20180320/deng-yuwen-forever-xi-jinping/zh-hant/

Xi reforms will tighten his control over China
中國通過機構改革加強行政管控
Financial Times, March 19, 2018
EN: https://www.ft.com/content/bf2a315a-2b6b-11e8-9b4b-bc4b9f08f381
CH: http://big5.ftchinese.com/story/001076807

Monday, March 19, 2018

Access to Justice (司法公正)

When China’s top lawmakers don’t go by the Communist Party’s playbook
South China Morning Post, March 19, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2137742/when-chinas-top-lawmakers-dont-go-communist-partys

中國即將通過國家監察法 紀委「雙規」將合法化 (China to pass Supervision Law, legalizing detention of party members during investigation)
British Broadcasting Corporation, March 19, 2018
http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/trad/chinese-news-43451802

China anti-corruption chief Wang Qishan named Xi Jinping's deputy
British Broadcasting Corporation, March 17, 2018
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-43440877

Related:
Surprise choice for China’s new anti-graft watchdog signals Communist Party’s authority over the state
South China Morning Post, March 18, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2137735/yang-xiaodu-surprise-choice-head-chinas-new-powerful

Detained Chinese rights group spokeswoman denied visit from defense lawyer
人权斗士徐秦被监视居住 律师会见遭拒
Radio Free Asia, March 16, 2018
EN: https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/spokeswoman-isolation-03162018164533.html
CH: https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/yf-03162018103211.html

中國網絡安全法:外企為何抱有疑慮? (Why foreign enterprises worry about the China's Cybersecurity Law?)
Financial Times, March 16, 2018
http://big5.ftchinese.com/story/001076746

多部门:适当限制特定严重失信人乘坐民航火车,5月起实施 (Multiple departments issue opinions on restricting “seriously untrustworthy people” from travelling on trains and planes)
Chinanews.com, March 16, 2018
http://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_2031193

China steps up pressure on dissidents who oppose changes to constitution
广东维权人士接受外媒采访被警方警告
Radio Free Asia, March 16, 2018
EN: https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/pressure-03162018151240.html
CH: https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/yf3-03162018103356.html

Access to Information (信息公开)

China propaganda kicks into overdrive as “helmsman” Xi re-anointed president
Reuters, March 18, 2018
https://goo.gl/4d4AM3

Digital protectionism and national security
Financial Times, March 17, 2018
https://www.ft.com/content/112e233c-2912-11e8-b27e-cc62a39d57a0

How a viral eye roll broke the silence on China's heavily censored web
Global Voices, March 16, 2018
https://advox.globalvoices.org/2018/03/17/how-a-viral-eye-roll-broke-the-silence-on-chinas-heavily-censored-web/

最高法网络公开审判流程信息新规解读:杜绝“选择性公开” (Supreme People’s Court issues regulations to prohibit “selective” disclosure of judicial process information online)
China Court, March 16, 2018
http://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_2031366

2017年四季度9省份名义GDP负增长 (9 provinces record negative nominal GDP growth in Q4 2017, likely resulting from correction of false data)
Nikkei, March 16, 2018
http://cn.nikkei.com/china/ceconomy/29646-2018-03-16-08-58-45.html

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Made-in-China halal: Online discussions on “Halalification”
What’s on Weibo, March 17, 2018
https://www.whatsonweibo.com/made-in-china-halal-online-discussions-on-halalification/

Young China: How the restless generation will change their country and the world
China File, March 16, 2018
http://www.chinafile.com/library/books/young-china

Related:
異鄉人——竺晶瑩:從「盛世」中出走,那些與我同行的中國年輕人 (The Stranger: Story of young Chinese and I who exit from a “Golden Age” China)
The Initium, March 16, 2018
https://theinitium.com/article/20180316-strangers-sandi/

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Why ghost marriages live on in rural China
Sixth Tone, March 19, 2018
http://bit.ly/2ppmdLi

China widens Xi's corruption crackdown
Agence France-Presse, March 18, 2018
https://www.afp.com/en/news/23/china-widens-xis-corruption-crackdown-doc-12m7op1

China has new three-year plan to clean up environment, minister says
South China Morning Post, March 18, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2137666/china-has-new-three-year-plan-clean-environment

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

China’s new frontiers in dystopian tech
The Atlantic, March 18, 2018
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/04/big-in-china-machines-that-scan-your-face/554075/

Deleted, suspended, demoted: Censorship, Silicon Valley-style
Al Jazeera, March 18, 2018
https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/listeningpost/2018/03/deleted-suspended-demoted-censorship-silicon-valley-style-180317111051502.html

工业和信息化部关于做好电信业务经营不良名单和失信名单管理工作的通知 (MIIT: New credit system for telecommunications industry will blacklist/expose harmful, dishonest companies)
Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, March 16, 2018
http://www.miit.gov.cn/n1146285/n1146352/n3054355/n3057709/n3057714/c6088105/content.html

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

China urges US to “correct mistake” on Taiwan
Agence France-Presse, March 18, 2018
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/18/china-urges-us-to-correct-mistake-on-taiwan

Prague opened the door to Chinese influence. Now it may need to change course.
Foreign Policy, March 16, 2018
http://foreignpolicy.com/2018/03/16/prague-to-czech-chinese-influence-cefc-energy-communist-party/

Related:
“We Are Chinese”: How China is influencing Sierra Leone’s presidential election
The Diplomat, March 16, 2018
https://thediplomat.com/2018/03/we-are-chinese-how-china-is-influencing-sierra-leones-presidential-election/