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.

Friday, February 26, 2021

Xinjiang (新疆)

Dutch parliament: China's treatment of Uighurs is genocide
Reuters, February 26, 2021

Is International Pressure Coalescing on China’s Xinjiang Policy?
The Diplomat, February 25, 2021

联合国人权理事会多国谴责中国在新疆侵犯人权罪行 (UNHRC members condemn China's human rights violations in Xinjiang)
Radio Free Aisa, February 25, 2021

Access to Information (公众知情权)

China Punishes Those Who Question ‘Martyrs.’ A Sleuth Keeps Track.
The New York Times, February 26, 2021

POLICE ARREST SEVEN, ENGAGE IN “ONLINE PURSUIT” TO CRACK DOWN ON ONLINE SPEECH
China Digital Times, February 25,

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Human Rights Concerns Continue to Dog 2022 Beijing Olympics
The Diplomat, February 26, 2021

China Launches All-Out Propaganda Campaign as Xi Jinping Claims Poverty is Over
Radio Free Asia, February 25, 2021

Related:
China claims to have eliminated poverty, but the figures mask harsh challenges
The Washington Post, February 25, 2021

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

Baidu, Alibaba, Tencent rank low in protecting digital rights, but it’s not all their fault, study finds
South China Morning Post, February 26, 2021

ByteDance agrees to US$92 million privacy settlement with US TikTok users
South China Morning Post, February 26, 2021

China's culture wars, now playing on Bilibili
Protocol, February 25, 2021

Hong Kong (香港)

Exclusive: Two rights groups quit Hong Kong as security law sends shudders through NGOs
Reuters, February 26, 2021

Hong Kong ex-leader CY Leung says city can’t expect chief executive to enjoy powers granted by Beijing, yet disregard state’s role in choosing post
South China Morning Post, February 26, 2021

National security law: 52 former lawmakers, activists arrested in January told to report to police on Sunday – more than a month early – with some expecting charges
South China Morning Post, February 26, 2021

Hong Kong teen who tried to flee to Taiwan with other fugitives faces new bail-jumping charge
South China Morning Post, February 26, 2021

National security law: English Schools Foundation tells parents practices will not change under new Hong Kong guidelines
South China Morning Post, February 26, 2021

Security law: Newly elected student union leaders say Chinese University Hong Kong trampled on popular opinion by cutting ties
Hong Kong Free Press, February 26, 2021

Related:
CUHK Statement on the Cabinet of the CUSU Executive Committee
中大就學生會幹事會當選內閣的聲明
Chinese University of Hong Kong, February 25, 2021

余心所善,不撓不悔—就中大剝奪學生會基本權利之聯署聲明 (“We Can’t Go On, We’ll GOn” - a petition against CUHK for depriving rights of the Student Union)
Syzygia, Cabinet-elect, 51st Executive Committee, the Student Union of CUHK, February 25, 2021

Hong Kong Baptist University cancels World Press Photo exhibition citing ‘safety and security’ concerns
Hong Kong Free Press, February 26, 2021

Loyalty, not love, key element of ‘patriots governing Hong Kong’, local delegate to China’s top legislative body says
South China Morning Post, February 25, 2021

Related:
China is mulling changes to Hong Kong’s electoral system
The Economist, February 26, 2021

Taiwan denies Hong Kong film tycoon Charles Heung residency on ‘national security’ grounds
Agence France-Presse, February 26, 2021

立法會一致通過修改《議事規則》及《內務守則》(Legislative Council unanimously passes amendments on Rules of Procedure and House Rules)
Ming Pao, February 26, 2021

【11.18 聲援理大】60 人被控暴動 分拆 6 案審理 最遲一案明年 12 月開審(60 charged with rioting over PolyU protests in 2019)
Stand News, February 26, 2021

Commentary (评论)

China’s Nationality Law Is a Cage for Hong Kongers
Foreign Policy, February 25, 2021

Thursday, February 25, 2021

Xinjiang (新疆)

Chinese gov’t figures show sharp decline in Xinjiang birth rate amid mounting claims of Uighur ‘genocide’
Hong Kong Free Press, February 25, 2021

China's Crackdown on Muslims Spreads to Tropical Hainan 
Voice of America News, February 25, 2021

为逼海外家人噤声 中国二度关押新疆维族女子 (China detains Xinjiang Uyghur woman again to silence family members abroad)
Deutsche Welle, February 25, 2021

Taiwan (台湾)

Beijing blast an ill wind for Taiwan’s cross-strait affairs moderate
South China Morning Post, February 25, 2021

Tibet (西藏)

流亡藏人报告:西藏被扭曲发展 (Report of Tibetans in exile:Distorted development in Tibet)
Radio Free Asia, February 25, 2021

Related:
Distorted Development: Chinese Discourse on the Right to Development and Its Implementation in Tibet
Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, February 24, 2021

Access to Information (公众知情权)

Coronavirus: Chinese woman spent six months behind bars for Covid-19 social media post, court document shows
South China Morning Post, February 25, 2021

With Chinese Media Under Control, Beijing Sets Sights on Foreign News
Voice of America News, February 25, 2021

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Hong Kongers crowdsourced a protest manual—and Myanmar’s already using it
Quartz, February 25, 2021

Government Accountability (政府问责)

民生观察:疫苗受害母亲致信两会代表 呼吁建立“救济与补偿机制” (Civil Rights and Livelihood Watch: In letter to deputies of NPC and members of CPPCC, mothers of vaccine victims call for establishment of "relief and compensation mechanism")
Radio Free Asia, February 25, 2021

Hong Kong (香港)

Japan tells China it ‘can’t tolerate mass arrests’ under Hong Kong’s national security law
South China Morning Post, February 25, 2021

Hong Kong officials say HK$8 billion earmarked for national security has nothing to do with Beijing’s office in the city, but remain tight-lipped on details
South China Morning Post, February 25, 2021

Related:
Hong Kong Budget 2021: Police equipment funding to triple and prison management budget to increase
Hong Kong Free Press, February 25, 2021

香港民研:近六成人不滿財政預算案 僅得36.4分創新低 (HKPORI survey shows nearly 60% dissatisfaction rate with budget)
inmedia.hk, February 25, 2021

Legal scholars warn vague wording in Hong Kong bill would grant authorities broad powers to disqualify officials, quash dissent
South China Morning Post, February 25, 2021

Beijing loyalists urge reforms to ensure only ‘patriots’ win in Hong Kong elections
Hong Kong Free Press, February 25, 2021

Related:
Four Hong Kong pro-democracy district councillors vow to serve ’till the last moment’ after gov’t signals ousting
Hong Kong Free Press, February 25, 2021

王振民指香港選舉制度從來是國家事務不屬高度自治範圍 (Tsinghua law professor Wang Zhenmin: Hong Kong electoral system has always been a national affair, not within the scope of high degree of autonomy)
Radio Television Hong Kong, February 25, 2021

To Build Loyalty to China, Hong Kong Rewrites History
香港政府利用历史灌输爱国主义和忠诚

The New York Times, February 25, 2021

Number of Hong Kong residents moving to Taiwan nearly doubles in 2020
The Guardian, February 25, 2021

To move or not to move? Life in the UK with the BN(O) visa
South China Morning Post, February 25, 2021

Wednesday, February 24, 2021

Xinjiang (新疆)

China targets Uighurs with more prosecutions, longer prison terms: HRW
Agence France-Presse, February 24, 2021

Related:
China: Baseless Imprisonments Surge in Xinjiang
Human Rights Watch, February 24, 2021

家人被困新疆音讯全无 哈族妇女中国总领馆外集会 (Kazakh women from Xinjiang demand release of relatives outside Chinese Consulate in Almaty)
Radio Free Asia, February 24, 2021

Tibet (西藏)

The United States and China Are Fighting Over the Dalai Lama’s Reincarnation Plans
Foreign Policy, February 23, 2021

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Top U.S. Senate Democrat directs lawmakers to craft bill to counter China
Reuters, February 23, 2021

谴责北京将两名加拿大公民当谈判筹码 拜登与特鲁多商讨共同反制中国威胁 (Biden and Trudeau discuss counter China strategy, condemn Beijing's use of Canadian citizens as bargaining chips)
Voice of America, February 24, 2021

“运动员应知道风险” 美国会共和党领袖推立法、致函白宫反制北京冬奥 (“Athletes should know the risks”: House Republicans to introduce bill and draft letter urging White House to counter Beijing Winter Olympics)
Voice of America, February 24, 2021

立陶宛关注中国威胁和新疆议题 (Lithuanian parliament drafts resolution on Xinjiang and threats from China)
Voice of America, February 24, 2021

Access to Justice (司法公正)

The Chinese Government Must End Reprisal Against Li Qiaochu for Exposing Torture
Chinese Human Rights Defenders, February 24, 2021

Hong Kong (香港)

Hong Kong electoral reforms: Beijing considers ‘breaking up Legco constituencies, scrapping super seats’
South China Morning Post, February 24, 2021

‘Patriots’ Only: Beijing Plans Overhaul of Hong Kong’s Elections
让“爱国者治港”:北京计划改革香港选举制度

The New York Times, February 23, 2021

Hong Kong Budget 2021: HK$8 billion earmarked for national security spending despite city facing record deficit
Hong Kong Free Press, February 24, 2021

Related:
Hong Kong is setting up a billion-dollar fund to implement its national security crackdown
Quartz, February 24, 2021

Hong Kong Budget 2021: Funding for public broadcaster RTHK cut by 4.6 per cent
Hong Kong Free Press, February 24, 2021

Hong Kong Democracy Activists Jailed Over Police Headquarters Protest Denied Bail
Radio Free Asia, February 23, 2021

China has tried to intimidate Hong Kong activists in Germany, Berlin says
Reuters, February 23, 2021

香港自由及法治指标创新低 首席法官刚上任民望插水 (Hong Kong freedom and rule of law indicators reached a new low, as did support for new Chief Justice)
Radio Free Asia, February 23, 2021

Commentary (评论)

不准獨立的電影:從中國大陸到中國香港 (From mainland China to China’s Hong Kong, independent films struggle to stay independent)
The News Lens, February 24, 2021