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 31, 2021

Xinjiang (新疆)

BBC China correspondent John Sudworth moves to Taiwan after threats
British Broadcasting Corporation, March 31, 2021

The cost of speaking up against China
British Broadcasting Corporation, March 31, 2021

H&M’s latest statement on Xinjiang cotton is very careful not to mention Xinjiang
The Quartz, March 31, 2021

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Wuhan citizen journalist Chen Qiushi under surveillance but may escape prosecution
South China Morning Post, March 31, 2021

Access to Information (公众知情权)

国际学者联名谴责中国制裁欧洲中国问题学者 (More than 400 academics condemn China's sanctions of British scholar)
Radio Free Asia, March 30, 2021

Related:
China denounced over ‘grave threat to academic freedom’
The Times, March 29, 2021

Government Accountability (政府问责)

U.S. human rights report blasts China over Uighurs, Russia's targeting of Navalny
Reuters, March 30, 2021

Related:
Secretary Antony J. Blinken On Release of the 2020 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
U.S. Department of State, March 30, 2021

2020 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: China (Includes Hong Kong, Macau, and Tibet)
U.S. Department of State, March 30, 2021

Serbia Hails Chinese Companies as Saviors, but Locals Chafe at Costs
塞尔维亚称赞中国公司为救星,但当地人付出了代价

The New York Times, March 31, 2021

W.H.O. Inquiry on the Pandemic’s Origin: What We Know
关于世卫新冠溯源调查报告,我们知道些什么

The New York Times, March 31, 2021

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

Chinese Big Tech's shadiest practices
Protocol, March 31, 2021

Hong Kong (香港)

Hong Kong’s electoral overhaul goes much deeper than quashing anti-China opposition, it’s pushing city to mirror mainland ways, analysts say
South China Morning Post, March 31, 2021

China’s Overhaul of Hong Kong Elections Gives Security Bodies a Key Role
香港新选举制度将带来哪些影响?

The New York Times, March 31, 2021

Related:
Will Hong Kong’s new post of chief convenor of election committee in political shake-up create another power centre?
South China Morning Post, March 31, 2021

National security police will act on legal breaches found when screening election candidate, Hong Kong legislature told
Hong Kong Free Press, March 31, 2021

U.S. condemns China moves to further reduce Hong Kong political participation
Reuters, March 31, 2021

Mystery lawyer appears in court for Hong Kong activist Andy Li, but family still don’t know where he is
Hong Kong Free Press, March 31, 2021

Hong Kong security law: Defendant in first trial files bid to overturn ‘no jury’ decision
Hong Kong Free Press, March 31, 2021

Hong Kong’s liberal studies to be renamed ‘citizenship and social development’ as part of massive overhaul
South China Morning Post, March 31, 2021

Related:
How Hong Kong lost its academic freedom in 2020
Global Voices, March 30, 2021

Exclusive: Hong Kong public broadcaster RTHK seeks to withdraw from journalism awards
Hong Kong Free Press, March 31, 2021

Related:
記協對港台暫不參與新聞獎表示極度遺憾(Hong Kong Journalists Association expresses regret over RTHK’s withdrawal from journalism awards)
Radio Television Hong Kong, March 31, 2021

記協聲明(Hong Kong Journalists Association statement)
Hong Kong Journalists Association, March 31, 2021

林卓廷辭任北區區議員(Ex-lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting, one of the 47 pro-democracy politicians detained, resigns from his North district councilor post)
Stand News, March 31, 2021

Commentary (评论)

Shielding Corporate Interests, Europe Leaves NGOs Working in China by the Wayside
ChinaFile, March 30, 2021

Lord Patten: through changing HK's electoral system "the CCP has shown the world once again that it cannot be trusted."
Hong Kong Watch, March 30, 2021

Tuesday, March 30, 2021

Xinjiang (新疆)

报告:北京用“新疆模式”压制信奉伊斯兰的回族人 (Report: Beijing uses “Xinjiang Model” to suppress Hui Muslims)
Voice of America, March 30, 2021

Related:
Hui Muslims and the “Xinjiang Model” of State Suppression of Religion
Congressional-Executive Commission on China, March 29, 2021

UN panel warns that ‘well-known global brands’ may be linked to Xinjiang human rights abuses
South China Morning Post, March 30, 2021

Related:
China: UN experts deeply concerned by alleged detention, forced labour of Uyghurs
UN Office the High Commissioner for Human Rights, March 29, 2021

China's propaganda machine kicks into high gear over Xinjiang criticism
Washington Post, March 30, 2021

Access to Justice (司法公正)

中国维权律师无辜遭打压 执业及生存环境愈发严峻 (Forced “voluntary” dissolution, arbitrary detention, travel restriction—rights defense lawyers struggle to survive under China's increasing repression)
Voice of America, March 30, 2021

陈秋实已经回到青岛父母家中 (Lawyer Chen Qiushi returns to parents' home after forced disappearance from Wuhan since February 2020)
Weiquanwang, March 30, 2021

Government Accountability (政府问责)

An Alliance of Autocracies? China Wants to Lead a New World Order.
专制联盟vs.民主联盟?中国欲领导新国际秩序

The New York Times, March 30, 2021

Virus Origins Remain Unclear in W.H.O.-China Inquiry
WHO新冠溯源报告未解答关键问题

The New York Times, March 30, 2021

Hong Kong (香港)

Beijing cuts Hong Kong's directly elected seats in radical overhaul
The Guardian, March 30, 2021

Related:
Hong Kong electoral revamp: December date for Legislative Council polls, key role for new chief convenor overseeing committee
South China Morning Post, March 30, 2021

Hong Kong national security police will screen election candidates
Hong Kong Free Press, March 30, 2021

In full: Beijing’s amendments to the annexes of Hong Kong’s Basic Law – in English
Hong Kong Free Press, March 30, 2021

中华人民共和国香港特别行政区基本法附件一 香港特别行政区行政长官的产生办法 (The Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China Annex I – Method for the Selection of the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region)
Xinhua, March 30, 2021

中华人民共和国香港特别行政区基本法附件二 香港特别行政区立法会的产生办法和表决程序 (The Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China Annex II – Method for the Formation of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Its Voting Procedures)
Xinhua, March 30, 2021

CE's statement in response to approval by Standing Committee of National People's Congress of amended Annex I and Annex II to Basic Law
行政長官就全國人大常委會通過新修訂的《基本法》附件一和附件二發表聲明
HKSAR Government, March 30, 2021

Hong Kong protests: doxxing case sees first person found guilty using colonial-era sedition law since city was handed back to China in 1997
South China Morning Post, March 30, 2021

National security law: historian to argue Hong Kong protest slogan incites separatism in first trial under Beijing-imposed legislation
South China Morning Post, March 30, 2021

Hong Kong public broadcaster RTHK axes news show episode – 9th cancellation since new chief took reins
Hong Kong Free Press, March 30, 2021

Related:
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam says new RTHK boss is meeting her expectations
South China Morning Post, March 30, 2021

中大封殺學生會 過百聯署要求召開校友評議會大會 評議會稱涉國家安全拒絕(Citing national security concerns, CUHK’s Convocation rejects request by more than 100 alumni to convene meeting on the shutdown of newly-elected student union Syzygia)
Stand News, March 30, 2021

Related:
校友評議會常務委員會書面回覆(Reply of the Convocation Standing Committee)
Convocation of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, March 30, 2021

Police can decide if our art is illegal: Henry Tang
Radio Television Hong Kong, March 29, 2021

唐英傑擬就不設陪審團覆核 申押後審訊遭拒 官:須及時辦理(Tong Ying-kit, charged under National Security Law. appeals for adjournment over jury absence; judge: case needs immediate trial)
inmedia.hk, March 30, 2021

【12 港人】質疑政府近「秘密監禁」李宇軒 人權組織促告知家屬拘留詳情 (Human rights group raises concern over Andy Li’s secret detention, urges authorities to provide details to family)
Stand News, March 30, 2021

Related:
12港人案3人控縱火 鄭子豪4月提訊 廖子文還押至5月答辯(Three activists of Hong Kong 12 case officially charged with attempted arson)
Ming Pao, March 30, 2021

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

Beijing Is Getting Better at Disinformation on Global Social Media
The Diplomat, March 30, 2021

Commentary (评论)

鄧正健:追擊M+,炮轟藝發局——香港文藝界正面對什麼政治壓力? (Chasing after M+ and slamming Arts Development Council—what political pressure are Hong Kong’s literary and art circles facing?)
Initium Media, March 30, 2021

Monday, March 29, 2021

Xinjiang (新疆)

China Sanctions US, Canadian Citizens in Xinjiang Row
Agence France-Presse, March 27, 2021

Huawei removes Nike and Adidas from its app store amid Xinjiang cotton controversy
South China Morning Post, March 29, 2021

Related:
China: Companies Should Resist Boycott Threats
Human Rights Watch News, March 27, 2021

新疆家人失踪 哈萨克人要求北京出面解释(Kazakhs demand answer from Beijing on family members missing in Xinjiang)
Deutsche Welle, March 29, 2021

China to step up use of Mandarin in Xinjiang schools in face of growing international outcry over policies
South China Morning Post, March 27, 2021

UN in talks with China over 'no restrictions' visit to Xinjiang
The Guardian, March 29, 2021

Related:
古特雷斯:联合国争取不受限制地至新疆考察(Antonio Guterres: UN seeks unrestricted visit to Xinjiang)
Deutsche Welle, March 29, 2021

Taiwan (台湾)

A Tawdry Tale of Local Graft Becomes a China #MeToo Moment
辅警许艳案:性、腐败与中国官场中的女性境遇

The New York Times, March 29, 2021

Government Accountability (政府问责)

中国再爆假奶粉 青岛奶粉致幼儿伤残(Cases of fake milk powder re-ignite in China in disability caused by baby formula in Qingdao)
Radio Free Asia, March 29, 2021

总书记亲民秀再遇喊冤女 寄希望于“青天大老爷”的冤民(In visit to Fujian, Xi Jinping encounters aggrieved petitioner calling for "Lord of Justice")
Voice of America, March 29, 2021

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

How Intel got blindsided by China's culture wars
Protocol, March 26, 2021

Hong Kong (香港)

Hong Kong Speedboat Detainee 'in Solitary Confinement' in Psychiatric Facility: Report
Radio Free Asia, March 29, 2021

Mainland law firm linked to the ‘Hong Kong 12’ case is ordered to disband – lawyer
Hong Kong Free Press, March 29, 2021

China’s top legislative body to begin finalising Hong Kong electoral overhaul, with observers expecting it to ‘go as far as it can’
South China Morning Post, March 28, 2021

Related:
China’s 14th five-year plan: Hong Kong’s opportunities in 2021-25 blueprint to be discussed at panel meeting
South China Morning Post, March 29, 2021

通訊局就港台電視節目《台灣故事III》發出勸諭(Communications Authority issues admonition to Radio Television Hong Kong on “Taiwan Stories 3” program that portrays Taiwan as a country)
Radio Television Hong Kong, March 29, 2021

Related:
Communications Authority Press Release (March)—Broadcast Complaints
通訊事務管理局新聞公報(三月)—廣播投訴
Communications Authority, March 29, 2021

港台設編輯委員會 稱3個被抽起節目不夠持平及準繩(Editorial Commission led by new head of RTHK cancels 3 programs deemed insufficiently fair and accurate)
Radio Television Hong Kong, March 29, 2021

「朔夜」批《鏗鏘集》被抽起是侮辱 有議員稱不感意外(Syzygia, cabinet-elect of Chinese University's student union, calls pulling of episode of “Hong Kong Connection” containing interview with them an insult)
Radio Television Hong Kong, March 29, 2021

New Hong Kong M+ art museum will not show Ai Weiwei’s Tiananmen photo – official
Hong Kong Free Press, March 29, 2021

Commentary (评论)

Biden Defines His Underlying Challenge With China: ‘Prove Democracy Works’
拜登评估美中竞争:21世纪民主与专制的较量

The New York Times, March 29, 2021