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.

Tuesday, February 26, 2019

Xinjiang (新疆)

在美维吾尔人呼吁关注遭关押亲人 (Uyghurs in U.S. call for relatives to speak out on family members in camps)
Deutsche Welle, February 25, 2019

Turkey, Britain raise China's treatment of Uyghurs at UN rights forum
Reuters, February 25, 2019

Related:
土耳其在联合国人权理事会批评中国虐待新疆穆斯林 (At UN Human Rights Council, Turkey criticizes China’s treatment of Muslims in Xinjiang)
Voice of America, February 26, 2019

Mohammed bin Salman turns blind eye on Uyghur plight during China visit
Al Bawaba, February 24, 2019

Access to Justice (司法公正)

最高法王林清认罪 崔永元失联 (Whistle blower judge Wang Linqing confesses, muckraking TV reporter Cui Yongyuan goes missing following court investigation)
Radio Free Asia, February 25, 2019

“戒网瘾死亡”案 家属很后悔 (18-year-old boy dies after being handcuffed and tortured in Internet addiction “school,” court sentences responsible personnel)
Legal Daily, February 25, 2019

北京一警察倒卖公民犯罪记录5万余条,获利32万被判4年 (Beijing police officer sentenced to 4 years in prison, fined RMB 320,000 for selling 50,000 citizens’ criminal records)
The Paper, February 25, 2019

Access to Information (信息公开)

《還願》風波裡,讓中國玩家們最恐懼其實是這件事 (Row over horror game “Devotion” is the true source of fear for China's players)
The Initium, February 26, 2019

Related:
Hit horror game ‘Devotion’ sparks heated debate on social media
TechNode, February 25, 2019

內地語文教材刪陳勝吳廣起義文章 微博稱「違規」刪除內容 出版社:免與歷史教材重覆 (Deletion of uprising against Qin rule from language textbooks: Netizens complain but publisher says “it's already in history books”)
Ming Pao, February 25, 2019

“Modern” religious tyranny: Return of village loudspeakers
Bitter Winter, February 24, 2019

The “bots” of Weibo: How fake automated Chinese social media accounts are being used as a Trojan horse for dissent
China Channel, February 22, 2019

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

无国界记者将发布报告提醒国际社会警惕中国大外宣影响 (Reporters Without Borders to issue report warning against China’s pressure on foreign media)
Voice of America, February 26, 2019

Chinese internet users turn to the blockchain to fight against government censorship
The Conversation, February 25, 2019

Quakes spark mass anti-fracking protest in China’s Sichuan
Radio Free Asia, February 25, 2019

冯正虎撤销针对政府的出国案系列诉讼 (Activist Feng Zhenghu drops claims against authorities after travel ban withdrawn)
Radio Free Asia, February 25, 2019

Liu Xia to exhibit in Taipei
Taipei Times, February 24, 2019

Government Accountability (政府问责)

“敏感之年”2019:习近平的焦虑与不安
2019 is a sensitive year for China. Xi is nervous.
The New York Times, February 25, 2019

U.S. Justice Department official calls China a “foreign adversary” that lacks commitment to rule of law
South China Morning Post, February 26, 2019

Related:
Rod Rosenstein criticizes China’s “transactional approach to the law”
Financial Times, February 25, 2019

China’s rise in the Middle East: Beyond economics
The Diplomat, February 25, 2019

Chinese government funding may have been used for “CRISPR babies” project, documents suggest
Stat News, February 25, 2019

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

Huawei to build Saudi Arabia’s 5G infrastructure
Caixin, February 25, 2019

Nokia says 5G would not be delayed by ban on Chinese suppliers
Reuters, February 25, 2019

China’s technology challenge is bigger than just Huawei, British spymaster says
Reuters, February 25, 2019

Hong Kong (香港)

釋囚疑懲教所偽造假期紀錄報警 引述警指需請示懲教 邵家臻:官官相衛 (Police say they must “consult Correctional Services” before accepting former prisoner’s complaint of prison staff falsifying records)
The Stand News, February 26, 2019

政府將破例「未研究先估算」明日大嶼人工島成本效益 (On Lantau reclamation scheme, government breaks rule to issue cost-benefit estimates without conducting prior studies)
Radio Television Hong Kong, February 25, 2019

Related:
Work on huge Lantau reclamation scheme won’t start until environmental safety is confirmed, senior Hong Kong official Liu Chun-san says
South China Morning Post, February 26, 2019

許智峯批《檔案法》冇罰則:檔案話消失就消失 法改會稱需要討論:唔係咁易講 (Legislator criticizes draft Archives Law for lack of penalty for government noncompliance)
Inmediahk.net, February 25, 2019

港科大台湾学生会遭换五星红旗 (Vandals switched ROC flag in Hong Kong University of Science and Technology’s Taiwan students club stall to PRC flag, student union condemns political attack, university begins investigation)
Radio Free Asia, February 25, 2019

China liaison office increases its Hong Kong property portfolio to more than 280 flats after its latest purchase
South China Morning Post, February 26, 2019

“Cut funding to sports clubs without anti-sex-harassment policies,” Hong Kong’s Equal Opportunities Commission tells government
South China Morning Post, February 25, 2019

Commentary (评论)

The rise of Chinese student power casts further uncertainty over Canada-China ties
SupChina, February 25, 2019

Why some Chinese immigrants living in Canada live in silent fear
Globe and Mail, February 25, 2019

“两会”前学者评中国“净网”的法律依据 (Chinese scholars comment on legal basis for “purifying” China’s Internet)
Voice of America, February 25, 2019

How Xi Jinping became a networked authoritarian thanks to his little red app
The Guardian, February 24, 2019

Monday, February 25, 2019

Xinjiang (新疆)

U.S. relatives of missing Uyghurs gather in Washington to call out China on Xinjiang’s disappeared
Associated Press, February 25, 2019

China says “preventive” work in Xinjiang detention camps should be applauded
The Guardian, February 24, 2019

“I won’t stop”: Kazakh man seeks justice for family caught in China’s Xinjiang crackdown
Hong Kong Free Press, February 24, 2019

China keen to keep Xinjiang, Uyghurs off agenda at UN Human Rights Council forum
Reuters, February 23, 2019

Chinese president and Saudi crown prince hold a “win-win” meeting
The Diplomat, February 23, 2019

Disappeared forever? The persecution of Uyghur intellectuals
China Channel, February 21, 2019

Access to Justice (司法公正)

秋雨聖約教會:王怡牧師七旬母親 遭警毆打、扯髮 (Crackdown on Autumnn Rain Covenant Church: 70-year-old mother of pastor attacked by police)
The Stand News, February 24, 2019

王林清千億礦權案卷宗丟失事件與調查結果 (Chronology and official investigation of into judge Wang Linqing’s involvement in missing documents of mine ownership case)
BBC News, February 23, 2019

Related:
Shock confession of China’s whistle-blower judge Wang Lingqing: It was me
South China Morning Post, February 23, 2019

千亿元卷宗丢失案惊天逆转 王林清“监守自盗” 周强“咸鱼翻身” (Netizens doubt investigation finding that whistle blower is culprit in missing papers case)
Radio France Internationale, February 24, 2019

Missing court files stolen by assistant judge: Investigation
Global Times, February 23, 2019

美籍商人在中国被判间谍罪,家人称因“政治动机”
Family of American imprisoned on spy charge in China appeals for help
The New York Times, February 25, 2019

China indicts detained human rights lawyer for “subversion”
Radio Free Asia, February 22, 2019

Related:
憂余文生遭酷刑 國際特赦呼籲立即釋放 (Amnesty International calls for immediate, unconditional release of jailed lawyer Yu Wensheng, citing fears of risk of torture)
Voice of America, February 22, 2019

Access to Information (信息公开)

中国宣布新教育计划,加强推广孔子学院 (Xi announces new education “modernization” plans, stronger push on Confucius Institutes)
Voice of America, February 24, 2019

Related:
China’s about-face on education
China Media Project, February 24, 2019

《中国教育现代化2035》强调党的领导 (“Modernization of China Education 2035” stresses Party leadership in schools)
Voice of America, February 24, 2019

西藏、六四、習近平都不可說,中國新一波海外出版「敏感詞」出爐 (Tibet, June 4, Xi Jinping: Censorship list for foreign publishers who print in China)
The News Lens, February 24, 2019

Related:
Chinese government censors ruling lines through Australian books
Sydney Morning Herald, February 23, 2019

恐怖游戏含政治暗语 台湾《还愿》成众矢之的 (Popular Taiwanese horror game “Devotion” censored in China for political “hints” at Xi)
Deutsche Welle, February February 23, 2019

Related:
Comparison of Winnie the Pooh with Xi Jinping too much for China gamers to bear
Hong Kong Free Press, February 24, 2019

As China tightens its grip on Hong Kong, Taiwan emerges as Asia’s hub for foreign media
Hong Kong Free Press, February 23, 2019

忧官逼民反? 中国教科书删陈胜吴广 (Well-known Qin Dynasty uprising deleted from Chinese textbooks)
Radio Free Asia, February 22, 2019

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

World’s largest monument to the 1989 Tiananmen massacre unveiled ahead of 30th anniversary
Hong Kong Free Press, February 25, 2019

Worker activist Fu Tianbo vows to continue his struggle for justice
China Labour Bulletin, February 25, 2019

加拿大华人吁中国释放加国公民 (In joint letter, Canadian Chinese citizens urge release of Canadian citizens detained in China)
Radio Free Asia, February 22, 2019

问题未解 疫苗患儿家长再度进京请愿
Dozens of vaccine parents protest in Beijing ahead of parliamentary session
Radio Free Asia, February 22, 2019

Government Accountability (政府问责)

中国打击职场歧视,招聘时禁问女性婚育情况
Stop asking women about childbearing status, China tells employers
The New York Times, February 22, 2019

纪检监察系统将保持清理门户高压态势 (Central Commission for Discipline Inspection to put high pressure on "housecleaning")
People’s Daily, February 25, 2019

Related:
China’s top anti-corruption organ declares safeguarding Xi’s status its top priority
The Diplomat, February 23, 2019

Student groups call for Ottawa to investigate alleged interference by Chinese officials on Canadian campuses
National Post, February 20, 2019

Tibetan graduates edged out by Chinese competitors for jobs in Tibet
Radio Free Asia, February 22, 2019

China bars millions from travel over “social credit” offenses
Associated Press, February 22, 2019

China relations shape Taiwan president’s re-election campaign
Voice of America, February 22, 2019

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

GCHQ: Chinese tech “threats” must be understood
BBC, February 25, 2019

The Latest: Trump raises prospect of dropping Huawei charges
Associated Press, February 23, 2019

China’s powerful surveillance state has created at least four billionaires
Bloomberg, February 22, 2019

Xi study app highlights Party influence over and through tech
China Digital Times, February 21, 2019

Hong Kong (香港)

Taiwanese Students’ Association stall vandalized at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Hong Kong Free Press, February 25, 2019

Activists urge primary school to apologize over reports it punishes students for speaking Cantonese
Hong Kong Free Press, February 24, 2019

港擬修訂移交逃犯法例 台陸委會:若以「一個中國」為前提,不會接受 (Taiwan Affairs Council: Will not accept any Hong Kong extradition law amendments based on “one China” policy)
Citizen News, February 21, 2019

Related:
Taipei won’t sign any extradition deal with Hong Kong if it implies Taiwan is part of China, official says
South China Morning Post, February 22, 2019

修訂《逃犯條例》 恐違禁止酷刑國際公約責任 (Extradition law amendments may violate UN Convention Against Torture obligations)
Inmediahk.net, February 25, 2019

News outlet HK01 blacklists pro-Hong Kong independence groups from ad deals and partnerships
Hong Kong Free Press, February 22, 2019

Related:
News outlet HK01 fires 70 employees to “improve efficiency” as part of restructuring
Hong Kong Free Press, February 22, 2019

Commentary (评论)

令人憂慮的憲政新秩序 (What does Carrie Lam’s “new constitutional order” mean for Hong Kong, and why is it concerning?)
Citizen News, February 24, 2019

Why Hong Kong’s proposed freedom of information law must face public scrutiny
South China Morning Post, February 23, 2019

Chinese tourists won’t be weapons much longer
Bloomberg, February 22, 2019

Thermo Fisher’s necessary, but insufficient, step in China
Human Rights Watch, February 22, 2019

How China’s censorship machine crosses borders — and into Western politics
Human Rights Watch, February 20, 2019

Friday, February 22, 2019

Xinjiang (新疆)

Rising Uyghur soccer player Erfan Hezim back with Chinese team after release from Xinjiang internment camp
South China Morning Post, February 22, 2019

Fears for Uyghur comedian missing amid crackdown on cultural figures
The Guardian, February 22, 2019

Energy executives abroad ensnared in China’s Xinjiang crackdown
Deutsche Presse-Agentur International, February 21, 2019

China spiriting Uyghur detainees away from Xinjiang to prisons in Inner Mongolia, Sichuan
Radio Free Asia, February 21, 2019

Wary of Xinjiang backlash, China invites waves of diplomats to visit
Reuters, February 21, 2019

Related:
挡不住舆论压力 中国再邀外交官访新疆再教育营 (China invites more diplomats to visit Xinjiang amidst mounting international pressure)
Deutsche Welle, February 22, 2019

澳大利亚籍维吾尔人求助其政府 称妻儿在新疆面临扣押危险 (Australian Uyghur seeks help from government, fearing wife’s imminent detention in Xinjiang and son’s safety)
BBC News, February 21, 2019

American firm, citing ethics code, won’t sell genetic sequencers in Xinjiang
Wall Street Journal, February 20, 2019

Related:
China uses DNA to track its people, with the help of American expertise
The New York Times, February 21, 2019

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Background: Wang Yi 王怡
Chinese Human Rights Defenders, February 22, 2019

最高检:切实防止案件“带病”批捕、起诉 (Supreme People’s Procuratorate urges early involvement of procuratorial organs in police investigation of major, sensitive cases)
Legal Daily, February 21, 2019

Access to Information (信息公开)

台湾陆生向中国国台办申诉 掀起箝制学术自由争议 (Mainland students at Taiwan universities report professors for “spreading ideology,” sparking academic freedom concerns)
BBC News, February 22, 2019

Economic woes hurt Chinese journalists as much as censorship does
The Economist, February 21, 2019

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

人权组织呼吁挽救藏语 释放政治犯扎西文色 (Human rights groups issue joint letter on Int’l Mother Language Day: Save the Tibetan language, release Tashi Wangchuk)
Voice of America, February 22, 2019

Related:
NGOs call for unconditional release of Tashi Wangchuk, Tibetan language advocate
Human Rights in China, February 21, 2019

China’s rights activists face torture, detention, “disappearance”: Report
Radio Free Asia, February 21, 2019

Why China is reactivating its “work-unit people”
Sixth Tone, February 21, 2019

CNN question “What do you think is the main reason behind the U.S. campaign against Huawei?” goes trending on Weibo
What’s On Weibo, February 21, 2019