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 09, 2005

March 9, 2005

Top news of the day

Detention – Li Baiquang (李栢光)
Rights activist Li Baiquang released from detention but not ‘free’
中国释放维权人士李柏光，但仍限制其行动
Radio Free Asia, March 8, 2005
Rights activist Li Baiquang was freed on January 21, 2005 since he was detained by the police last December on allegation of fraud. Yet, Li has been warned not to provide legal aid to workers and farmers and not to leave Beijing without notification the police.
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/xinwen/2005/03/08/libeguang/



News

Corruption
Fujian corruption fighter to face charges
SCMP, March 9, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ3I2K985E.html

Officials targeted in revived crackdown
SCMP, March 9, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZXAKA585E.html

Death penalty
Death penalty to undergo stricter review
Xinhuanet.com, March 9, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/09/content_2671
706.htm

Detention Cases
China arrests 800,000 people in 2004
Agence France Presse, 9 March 2005
China arrested over 800,000 people last year for a variety of crimes including endangering state security and being involved in separatist and terrorist activities, a top official said Wednesday.
http://www.asianews.it/view.php?l=en&art=2731

Environment
NPC Deputy Seeks Rural Environment Legislation
China Daily, March 9, 2005
Lawmaker Jiang Deming wants to make sure that rural areas are not left behind when the country takes action to ensure people have clean water, fresh air and a better environment in which to live.
http://china.org.cn/english/2005/Mar/122251.htm

Gender
Ten Years After Beijing, Asian Women Have Far To Go
Radio Free Asia, March 7, 2005
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/social/2005/03/07/asia_
women/

Gender – law / sexual harassment
Sexual harassment should be clearly defined in law and punished, says Congressman
人大代表：必须从法律上界定和惩治“性骚扰”
People’s Daily, March 8, 2005
http://legal.people.com.cn/GB/42734/43193/3227231.html

Women representatives urge legislation on domestic violence
我国三成妇女遭受过家庭暴力 代表呼吁立法
People’s Daily, March 8, 2005
http://legal.people.com.cn/GB/42734/43193/3227192.html

Government – governance and accountability
Stricter official accountability system promised
Xinhuanet.com, March 9, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/09/content_2670
916.htm

Human rights
Crackdown intensifying, says rights watchdog
SCMP, March 9, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ4Y9L985E.html

Bao Tong (Former secretary of CPPCC) petitions to NPC for condemning the government’s violation of human rights
鲍彤致信人大要求制裁党政侵权
Radio Free Asia, March 8, 2005
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/xinwen/2005/03/08/baotong/

Labour
Chinese Vendors Lose a Market They Built; Beijing's Silk Alley Is Gone; Sellers Cry Foul at Land Deal
The Washington Post, 9 March 2005
On a chilly morning last December, Zhu Dingya huddled with other merchants outside the Silk Alley market, one of the city's most prominent attractions, and inspected a notice tacked to the entrance.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A18479-2005
Mar8.html

Law
NPC to debate draft law on emergency
Xinhuanet.com, March 9, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/09/content_2671
573.htm

Law – legal professions
Lawyer-judge relations under fire at legislature annual session
People’s Daily.com, March 8, 2005
http://english1.peopledaily.com.cn/200503/08/eng20050308_
176082.html

Politics
China's Other Political Parties Powerless
AP via YahooNews.com, March 8, 2005
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=516&am
p;amp;amp;ncid=731&e=10&u=/ap/20050308/ap_on_re_as/chin
a_the_other_ parties

Politics – NPC & CPPCC
NPC adopts new voting method to ensure "full democracy"
People’s Daily, March 8, 2005
http://english1.peopledaily.com.cn/200503/08/eng20050308
_176080.html

China's legislature to strengthen law-enforcement inspection on major issues
Xinhua News Agency, 9 March 2005
China's top legislature would strengthen law-enforcement inspection on major issues having a bearing on the country's reform, opening up and stability this year, top legislator Wu Bangguo said here Wednesday.
http://english.people.com.cn/200503/09/eng20050309_17617
4.html

Ethnic Minority CPPCC Members Panel
China Daily, March 9, 2005
About 100 ethnic minority members of the 10th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the top advisory body, held a joint panel discussion meeting on March 7 about the 2004 work report of the State Council, China's cabinet.
http://china.org.cn/english/2005/Mar/122294.htm

Poverty
Beijing to Renovate 'Villages Within Cities'
China Daily March 9, 2005
Beijing plans to renovate nearly 100 "villages within cities" -- former suburban areas that have been swallowed up by urban sprawl -- by the end of the year. It is the most intense effort yet to tackle the city's chronic enclaves of poverty.
http://china.org.cn/english/2005/Mar/122254.htm

Protests and petitions
Increasing number of petitions reported in 2004
Xinhuanet.com, March 9, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/09/content_26
71719.htm

Migrant workers – children
Rising concerns over migrant children education, congressmen say government should take charge to ensure equal education opportunities
外来工子弟就学引关注 代表建议由中央埋单
EastDay.com, March 9, 2005
http://china.eastday.com/eastday/news/node37955/node37957/
node37979/node52490/userobject1ai921381.html

Hong Kong
Hong Kong courts have no power to consider successor's tenure, says scholar
SCMP, March 9, 2005
http://hongkong.scmp.com/hknews/ZZZYMMA585E.html

Beijing may interpret Basic Law again when necessary
北京称如有必要人大将再次释法
Voice of America, March 8, 2005
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2005-03-08-voa68.cfm

Monday, March 07, 2005

March 8, 2005


News

Corruption
Deputy calls for anti-corruption law, independent authorities
Xinhuanet.com, March 7, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/07/content_26611
55.htm

Gender
Domestic violence and labour disputes top on 10 major women’ rights cases in Beijing
北京妇女维权十大案例:家庭暴力劳动争议居首位
EastDay.com, March 8, 2005
http://china.eastday.com/eastday/news/node37955/node37957/
node37979/node52410/userobject1ai918678.html

Gender - discrimination
Women should have the right to choose whether to retire earlier for the family
女性有权选择是否提前“回家”
Nanfang Daily, March 8, 2005
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/southnews/dd/nfrb/A01/2005
03080024.asp

Gender – women trafficking
1,837 women saved from trafficking in Anhui in 2004
安徽：解救被拐妇女儿童1837名
Chinese Youth Online, March 7, 2005
http://news.cyol.com/gb/news/2005-03/07/content_1043719.htm

Domestic violence cases on the rise in Beijing
北京：家庭暴力案件呈增长趋势
China Youth Daily, March 8, 2005
http://zqb.cyol.com/gb/zqb/2005-03/08/content_1043979.htm

Gender – law / sexual harassment
New sexual harassment law will be toothless, say critics
SCMP, March 8, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZU8ZJ985E.html

CPPCC adviser suggests criminalizing same-sex sexual offences
刘白驹委员建议：将同性性侵犯行为列为犯罪
Legal Daily, March 8, 2005
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/bm/2005-03/08/content_1936
24.htm

Government – governance and accountability
Excerpted article: the implications of taking public opinions
瞭望东方周刊：广纳贤言的背后
Xinhuanet.com, March 8, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2005-03/08/content_2
666414.htm

Human rights – freedom of speech / Media – internet
Featured article: from anonymous letters to internet discussion forums
杜奔放来稿：从匿名来信到网上论坛
Chinesenewsnet.com, March 7, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/Opinion/2005_
3_7_8_49_49_783.html

Human rights – human rights defenders
Dissident Wei Jingsheng nominated for Nobel Peace Price 2005
魏京生再次被提名为2005年诺贝尔和平奖候选人
Chinesenewsnet.com, March 8, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/Topics/2005_3
_6_23_47_50_541.html

Land policy
Curbs on land use to be tightened
The Standard, March 8, 2005
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/stdn/std/China/GC08Ad01.html

Media – press freedom
China's censorship begins to relax
Financial Times, March 7, 2005
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/e91eb580-8f34-11d9-a70f-00000e25
11c8.html

Natural resources and energies
Authorities mull energy crisis plan
SCMP, March 8, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitech/ZZZOVXJ985E.html

Politics - NPC & CPPCC
China’s Wen spells out action to beat inequality
Financial Times, March 8, 2005
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/738ec89a-8ecc-11d9-bb12-00000e2511c8.html

'Teflon politician' perfect fit for fifth generation
SCMP, March 8, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZOHKA585E.html

Jiang Zemin's career ends as China's parliament accepts final resignation
Reuters via YahooNews.com, March 8, 2005
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1530&ncid=7
31&e=1&u=/afp/20050308/wl_asia_afp/chinanpcpoliticsmilitary
jiang

Protests and petitions
Police take away 20 sit-in protestors
20名静坐抗议上访人士被警方带走
Radio Free Asia, March 8, 2005
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/xinwen/2005/03/07/kangyi/

Rural issues – taxation
The important symbolic meanings of scrapping agricultural tax, says scholar
学者：中国取消农业税象征色彩重
Voice of America, March 8, 2005
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2005-03-07-voa35.cfm

Taiwan
China Says Aggression Against Taiwan a Last Resort
Reuters via YahooNews.com, March 8, 2005
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=574&ncid=7
31&e=2&u=/nm/20050308/wl_nm/china_parliament_taiwan_dc


March 5-7, 2005

Top news of the day

Human rights – human rights defenders
Year-long work ban for activist lawyer Guo Guoting
SCMP, March 5, 2005
Shanghai authority plans to suspect the licence of activist lawyer Guo Guoting (郭國汀) for one year after Guo admitted positing essays on China and overseas websites in a judicial hearing.
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ851L985E.html


NGOs
NGOs to keep links to official agencies
SCMP, March 7, 2005
New regulations governing the registration of NGOs will be announced in the next few months; however, officials ruled out the speculation that “dual management system” would be scrapped under the new regulations
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZW6DA585E.html



News
Education
Minister of Education reveals universal education to senior secondary in 2020
教育部部长周济透露 二0二0年前普及高中教育
Xinhuanet.com, March 6, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2005-03/06/content_26
57171.htm

China to give aid to poor students
Big News Network, 6th March, 2005 (UPI)
China's premier has said the country will provide students from poor families in rural areas with free textbooks and exempt them from paying miscellaneous fees.
http://story.chinanationalnews.com/p.x/ct/9/id/fcc373aea548154e
/cid/9366300fc9319e9b/

University Loses Lawsuit Against Student in Exam Cheat Case
Xinhua News Agency March 6, 2005
A local court in Zhengzhou, capital of central China's Henan Province, ruled Thursday that Zhengzhou University should withdraw its decision to expel one of its students
(surname Dong), who was found cheating on an exam.
http://china.org.cn/english/China/121945.htm

Food Security
Food security 'is assured' as farms meet 95pc of mainland's grain needs
SCMP, March 7, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ7L2L985E.html

China Says More Support Needed for Farmers
AP, Mar 6, 2005
China has more than enough grain reserves to cover its immediate needs, but farmers need more help if the country is to ensure future food supplies, officials said Sunday.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/ap/20050306/ap_on_re_as/china_food_security

Government – Civil Services
Premier needs to tackle the bloated government payroll
SCMP, March 7, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZOO2L985E.html

Now hiring: haughty officials with bad attitude
SCMP, March 7, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZY7DA585E.html

26:1 an unprecedented citizen-to-government official ratio in history
史无前例：中国26个百姓养1个官
Chinesenewsnet.com, March 6, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/SinoNews/
Mainland/2005_3_6_2_12_31_917.html

Human rights – bilateral ties
Top adviser urges state to stay out of rights row with US
SCMP, March 7, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZS6DA585E.html

June 4th – EU arms ban
Arms embargo 'is political discrimination against China'
SCMP, March 7, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZDNGA585E.html

China rebuffs arms ban fears
FT, March 6, 2005
China on Sunday dismissed suggestions that the lifting of the European Union's arms embargo would prompt a surge in weapons purchases, saying it did not have the money to buy “expensive and useless” equipment from the EU.
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/4124f10e-8e3b-11d9-8aae-00000e25
11c8,_i_rssPage=9d5b9ebe-c8bc-11d7-81c6-0820abe49a01.html

Labour
Minimum wage raised to fix labour shortage
SCMP, March 5, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZTPEA585E.html

Labour – employment market
China expects higher urban unemployment rate
Xinhuanet.com, March 6, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/06/content_2657
935.htm

Law – judicial system
Advisors underline judicial justice in harmonious society
People’s Daily, March 6, 2005
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200503/06/eng20050306_
175763.html

Media – press freedom / Politics – NPC
Party propaganda department bans media “over” coverage of mine accidents as meetings of NPC and CPPCC in progress
“两会” 中宣部：媒体禁止炒作矿难
Dajiyuan.com, March 6, 2005
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/5/3/6/n838286.htm

Political dissidents - petitions and protests
China parliament protesters held
BBC, 2005/03/07
Up to 20 people have staged a protest in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, outside the building hosting China's annual parliamentary session.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/asia-pacific/4324821.stm

Politics – political reform
Political reform a pre-requisite of the buildup of harmonious society
新政构建和谐社会　先要改革政治体制
Chinesenewsnet.com, March 6, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/Forums/BackSt
age/2005_3_5_16_1_21_152.html

Politics – NPC & CPPCC
Jiang submits final resignation
SCMP, March 5, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZZ11L985E.html

Population
China to continue keeping birth rate low
Xinhuanet.com, March 7, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/07/content_266117
2.htm

China ponders gender ID law
Big News Network, 7th March, 2005 (UPI)
A Chinese legislator is calling for tighter regulations on the use of ultrasound machines to identify the sex of fetuses, a report said Monday.
http://story.chinanationalnews.com/p.x/ct/9/id/4dfcc74c6759588
f/cid/9366300fc9319e9b/

Public health / Politics – NPC & CPPCC
Medical monitoring, price reforms to help poor and tackle graft
SCMP, March 7, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZBJ2L985E.html

Public health - AIDS
China plans better AIDS treatment in 2005
Big News Network, 6th March, 2005 (UPI)
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao promised Saturday to accelerate reform and development of health care in 2005, including disease prevention and emergency systems.
http://story.chinanationalnews.com/p.x/ct/9/id/a14c8ba74fd72f
7a/cid/9366300fc9319e9b/

Reform - social development
China to Beef up Weak Links in Social Development
Xinhua News Agency March 6, 2005
China will spend 13.78 percent more on beefing up weak links in social development.
http://china.org.cn/english/China/121913.htm

China to Help More Street Children
Xinhua News Agency March 7, 2005
China is taking steps to deal with its increasing number of homeless children, said Zhang Shifeng, deputy director of the Ministry Civil Affairs' social welfare office.
http://china.org.cn/english/2005/Mar/121989.htm

Rural issues - poverty
China's Wen spells out action to beat inequality
FT, March 7 2005
Wen Jiabao, China's premier, laid out his government's agenda for the next year at the start of the annual National People's Congress with a speech stressing action to address economic inequalities, inefficiencies and imbalances.
http://story.chinanationalnews.com/p.x/ct/9/id/7d34f19c0553bb
75/cid/9366300fc9319e9b

State secrets
Sensitive archives 'have not been doctored'
SCMP, March 7, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ9MGA585E.html

Women - employment
Job Fair for Women Attracts a Crowd
Shanghai Daily March 7, 2005
The Shanghai Women's Federation organized a job fair exclusively for women yesterday, in response to a survey suggesting a growing number of young women can't find work in the city.
http://china.org.cn/english/China/121994.htm

Taiwan
China: Keep Taiwan Out of Alliance
AP, Mar 6, 2005
China's foreign minister warned Japan and the United States on Sunday not to include Taiwan within the scope of their military alliance, saying Beijing would not permit interference in what it considers an internal matter.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/ap/20050306/ap_on_re_as/china_us_taiwan

Friday, March 04, 2005

March 4, 2005

Top news of the day

Media – press freedom / NPC
US photographer beat up by Beijing police
美国摄影记者在北京遭警察殴打
Radio Free Asia, March 3, 2005
A US photographer working for AFP was surrounded and had his camera taken away by Beijing police when he was taking pictures at State Bureau for letters and calls (國家信訪局), where he saw officials pushing petitioners.
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/xinwen/2005/03/03/afp/

Religion
At least 10 foreign church leaders expelled from China
中国驱逐至少十名外国教会领袖
Chinesenewsnet.com, March 4, 2005
More than 10 foreign church leaders in China, 8 of which were US citizens, were expelled by the authority in February, while 140 Chinese family church leaders had been detained for interrogation.
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/SinoNews/Main
land/cna_2005_03_03_19_38_03_401.html




News


Death penalty
Regional offices to vet death penalties
SCMP, March 4, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ1VPJ985E.html

Supreme Court to review top penalty
Xinhuanet.com, March 4, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/04/content_2647
119.htm

Disaster / labour – industrial accidents
Blast next to school leaves students dead
SCMP, March 4, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ1XPJ985E.html

Economic Development
China's development plans to draw on CPPCC's ideas: Jia Qinglin
People’s Daily, March 4, 2005
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200503/03/eng20050303_175
436.html

Education
China experiences rising school dropout rate
China Daily, March 4, 2005
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-03/04/content_
421520.htm

Environment
6,500 polluters punished
Xinhuanet.com, March 4, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/04/content_2647
514.htm

Government – taxation
Income tax threshold expected to rise
Xinhuanet.com, March 4, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/04/content_2647
281.htm

Human rights – bilateral ties
Senator McCain urges China to review human rights conditions
麦凯恩参议员促中国检讨人权状况
Voice of America, March 3, 2005
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2005-03-03-voa86.cfm

Human rights – human rights defender / Law – law profession
Focus: Current conditions of Chinese lawyers
專訪：中國律師處境現狀
BBC News, March 3, 2005
http://news.bbc.co.uk/chinese/trad/hi/newsid_4310000/newsid
_4316800/4316835.stm

Labour
NPC deputy proposes law against employment discrimination
Xinhuanet.com, March 4, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/04/content_2648
145.htm

Media – internet
Chinese Censors and Web Users Match Wits
New York Times, March 4, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/04/international/asia/04cen
sor.html

Natural resources / Energy
Stop building illegal power plants: Wen
SCMP, March 4, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZN08A585E.html

Politics – NPC & CPPCC
Beijing Clamps Down as Parliament Delegates Gather
Reuters via YahooNew.com, March 4, 2005
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=574&ncid=
731&e=2&u=/nm/20050304/wl_nm/china_parliament_dc

Dissidents watched closely by the authority during meeting times
北京两会丁子霖，蒋彦永，刘晓波等受监视
Boxun.com, March 3, 2005
http://www.peacehall.com/news/gb/china/2005/03/2005030
30023.shtml

Population – urbanization
China's urban areas to be home to 1.1 billion people in 2050
AFP via YahooNews.com, March 4, 2005
http://au.news.yahoo.com/050304/19/tcez.html

Poverty
China Worries About Economic Surge That Skips the Poor
New York Times, March 4, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/04/international/asia/04
china.html

Prison – re-education through labour
Reforming the system of re-reduction through labour (RTL): two ways to go
劳教制度改革的两种路径选择
China Youth Daily, March 4, 2005
http://zqb.cyol.com/gb/zqb/2005-03/04/content_1042369.htm

Rural – agricultural development
$24 bln govt fund to support farmers
Xinhuanet.com, March 4, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/04/content_2647
217.htm

Society
Unbearable burden of housing
Xinhuanet.com, March 4, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/04/content_2648
164.htm

Wednesday, March 02, 2005

March 3, 2005


Top news of the day

Children – child labour
Hebei textile factory owner covers up child labour death with the help of police
河北老板将童工活着送去火葬闷死，警察庇护凶嫌
Boxun.com, March 3, 2005
Human rights group reported that an owner of a textile factory in a rural village in Hebei covered-up the death of 5 female child labour aged from 14 to 17 who inhaled charcoal fumes in the factory.
http://www.peacehall.com/news/gb/yuanqing/2005/03/2005
03031134.shtml



Death penalty
Death penalty review to return to Supreme Court next year
最高人民法院有望明年收回死刑复核权
EastDay.com, March 3, 2005
Sources close to the People’s Supreme Court revealed that death penalty review would likely to return to the Supreme Court next year, marking a crucial move in the death penalty reform.
http://china.eastday.com/eastday/news/node37955/node37957/
node37979/node51950/userobject1ai905641.html

Disaster / Labour - industrial accidents
20 children killed in China blast
Reuters via YahooNews.com, March 3, 2005
A cache of explosives at the home of a coal mine manager blew up in a town in Shanxi, killing him and at least 20 children at a nearby grade school.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/nm/2005
0303/wl_nm/china_explosion_dc



News

Bilaterals - US/China
China fires back at U.S. rights criticisms, accuses Washington of violations
AP, Thursday March 3, 2005
http://asia.news.yahoo.com/050303/ap/d88jcr8o0.html

Gender
Gender equality hits mainstream
China Daily, March 3, 2005
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-03/03/content
_421158.htm

Gender – marriage
Marriage Law most familiar among women
Xinhuanet.com, March 3, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/03/content_26417
97.htm

Hukou
New law to guarantee free migration
Xinhuanet.com, March 3, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/03/content_26427
93.htm

June 4th – EU arms ban
EU may be penalised over plan to lift arms sales ban
SCMP, March 3, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZSHMJ985E.html

Labour – industrial accidents
Guangdong senior officials required to resign for industrial accidents killing more than 50 people, according new regulation
广东规定事故一次死亡50人以上地市领导须辞职
EastDay.com, March 3, 2005
http://china.eastday.com/eastday/news/node37955/node37957/
node37979/node51950/userobject1ai906053.html

Resources rolled out to prevent mining disasters
SCMP, March 3, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZU45A585E.html

Owners forced to fund mine safety upgrading
Xinhuanet.com, March 3, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/03/content_264
1565.htm

Law – legal reform / re-education through labour
NPC set to discard re-education through labour (RTL)
中国人大今年将立法废除劳教
Dajiyuan.com, March 3, 2005
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/5/3/3/n834008.htm

Migrant workers
China offers more jobs to migrant millions
Xinhuanet.com, March 3, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/03/content_2642
200.htm

South China Feels Acute Labor Shortage
Xinhua News Agency March 3, 2005
Thousands of local enterprises in Guangdong report a combined need for at least 2 million workers if they want to operate at full capacity, according to an official with the provincial government.
http://china.org.cn/english/2005/Mar/121578.htm

Politics – NPC
NPC progress in processing bills
Xinhuanet.com, March 3, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/03/content_2642
537.htm

Politics - Political reforms / NPC
Hopes for political reform dashed as party cements power
SCMP, March 3, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZIA7A585E.html

Population – one-child policy / Law
Criminalized illegal sex-identification to revive sex-ratio
我国男女性别比例失衡 非法鉴定胎儿性别应负刑责
Legal Daily, March 3, 2005
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/bm/2005-03/03/content_191
922.htm

Protests and petitions
Thousands of Petitioners Converge on Beijing Ahead of NPC, Hundreds Detained
Radio Free Asia, March 2, 2005
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/politics/2005/03/02/china_
NPC_petitioners/

Resettlement – forceful eviction
Displaced villagers to miss out on profits from land auction
SCMP, March 3, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ1IMJ985E.html

Religion
Rights group announces UN judgment on China’s arbitrary detention of church leader Zhang Yinan (張義南)
对华援助协会公布联合国就张义南被任意拘禁作出的裁定
Boxun.com, March 2, 2005
http://www.peacehall.com/news/gb/religion/2005/03/20050
3020722.shtml

Rural issues / NPC
Problems lurk behind contented farmers
SCMP, March 3, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZOJUK985E.html

China to Subsidize Farmers with 5.5b Yuan
Xinhua News Agency March 3, 2005
http://china.org.cn/english/China/121660.htm#

Hong Kong – Basic Law
HK deputies may revive move to review Basic Law
SCMP, March 3, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZXHMJ985E.html

Taiwan
China Plans to Pass Anti-Secession Law
AP, Mar 3, 2005
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/ap/20050303/ap_on_re_as/china_tough_on_taiwan

Tibet
"White Paper of distorted facts and figures"
TYC, March 03, 2005
http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?article=%22White+Paper+of+distorted+facts+and+figures%22+TYC&id=9150

March 2, 2005

Top news of the day

Law - Legal profession
Guo Guoting demands public hearing over unreasonable treatments of the authority
郭国汀律师要求举行听证会
Dajiyuan.com, March 2, 2005
Guo Guoting (郭國汀), a renowned lawyer for defending cases of political dissidents, demanded a public hearing over maltreatment by the Shanghai authority, who took away his computer and lawyer license and threatened of giving him administrative punishment.
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/5/3/2/n832952.htm


Politics - NPC
Petitioners taken away as Beijing tightens security for NPC meetings
北京加强戒备 大客车带走上访者
Radio Free Asia, March 1, 2005
Witnesses reported that at least 100 petitioners in Beijing, most of whom women, were taken away by police early this week as the government tightened security for the NPC and CPPCC meetings.
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/xinwen/2005/03/01/shangfangzhe/




News

Corruption
Communist Party Leaders Struggle to Contain Rising Corruption in China
Voice of America, March 1, 2005
http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-03-01-voa7.cfm

Education - compulsory
Education Ministry Reports Progress in 2004
Xinhua News Agency March 2, 2005
By the end of 2004, 93.6 percent of children were enrolled in the nation's nine-year compulsory education program, said the Ministry of Education's Han Jin at a press conference on Tuesday.
http://china.org.cn/english/2005/Mar/121511.htm

Human rights – bilateral ties
US attacks China's record on civil rights
SCMP, March 2, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZP6RK985E.html

Asian Nations Respond Angrily to Annual US Human Rights Report
VOA, 01 March 2005
Leading the criticism was China, which accused the United States of implementing a double standard on human rights, and interfering in its internal affairs.
http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-03-01-voa9.cfm

China to issue human rights record of the United States
People's Daily, March 2, 2005
The Information Office of the State Council will issue on March 3 the Human Rights Record of the United States in 2004.
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200503/02/eng20050302_175
185.html

June 4th – prisoners – Zhao Ziyang
Rehabilitate Zhao, urge Tiananmen relatives
SCMP, March 2, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZALJJ985E.html

June 4th – EU arms ban
Rights group urges EU not to lift arms ban
人权组织吁欧盟勿解除军售禁令
Voice of America, March 1, 2005
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/W2005-03-01-voa75.cfm

Taiwan raps EU over plans to lift China arms ban
SCMP, March 2, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZC0SK985E.html

China's Tiananmen families seek parliament redress
Reuters, March 1, 2005
http://www.deepikaglobal.com/ENG4_sub.asp?ccode=ENG4&new
scode=94358

Law – legal profession
Lawyers take high risk in defending social justice
中国律师维护社会正义风险大
Voice of America, March 1, 2005
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/2005-03-01-voa62.cfm

Media - internet
Internet curbs tightened
SCMP, March 2, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitech/ZZZGG0A585E.html

Featured article: commercialization and freedom of speech of internet media in China
萧强：中国网络媒体高度商业化与言论自由
Chinesenewsnet.com, March 2, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/Opinion/2005_
3_1_20_10_35_7.html

Police – crime
China Confronts Rising Crime in a Fast-track Economy
Voice of America, February 28, 2005
http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-02-28-voa9.cfm

Politics
Small reforms could change whole society
Xinhuanet.com, March 1, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/02/content_263
6918.htm

Politics – NPC
Walking the nationalist tightrope
SCMP, March 2, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ842A585E.html

China tightens Internet security during imminent plenary NPC meeting
People’s Daily, March 2, 2005
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200503/01/eng20050301_
175140.html

Protests and petitions
China to reshuffle petition system to meet new regulation
Xinhuanet.com, March 1, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/01/content_263
5625.htm

Public health
Over 65% Chinese people not covered by medical insurance and a quarter do not take medical treatment when they are sick
中国65.7%居民无医疗保险 1/4的人有病不去就医
EastDay.com, March 2, 2005
http://china.eastday.com/eastday/news/node37955/node37957/
node37979/node51862/userobject1ai904456.html

Public health - HIV/AIDS
China detects 539 HIV positive cases in border check-up in 2004:
World News, March 1, 2005
http://story.chinanationalnews.com/p.x/ct/9/id/3cf018ff74df23
a7/cid/9366300fc9319e9b/

Chinese HIV sufferers must tell spouses
Big News Network, 1st March, 2005 (UPI)
Anyone from Southwest China's Yunnan Province who tests positive for HIV must inform their spouse, the official China Daily said Monday.
http://story.chinanationalnews.com/p.x/ct/9/id/48abfcd4046f89
e1/cid/9366300fc9319e9b/

Society - divorce
China tries to stem soaring divorce rate
The Guardian, March 2, 2005
Chinese authorities are sending "think again" letters to couples applying for divorce after the number of people ending their marriages surged by 21% last year.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/china/story/0,7369,1428224,00.html
?gusrc=rss

Hong Kong
Reports: Hong Kong's Leader Plans to Quit
AP via YahooNews.com, March 2, 2005
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=516&a
mp;amp;ncid= 731&e=10&u=/ap/20050302/ap_on_re_as/hong
_kong_politics

Democracy death-knell: Martin Lee
The Standard, March 2, 2005
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/stdn/std/Front_Page/GC02
Aa02.html

Tuesday, March 01, 2005

March 1, 2005


Top news of the day

Human Rights – bilateral ties
China Gets Tough Marks in U.S. Rights Report
Reuters via YahooNews.com, February 28, 2005
In the latest report on human rights published by the US State Department, China is highlighted for the government’s poor human rights record and is criticized for persistent human rights abuses on religion and the political dissidents.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=615&ncid=
731&e=9&u=/nm/20050228/pl_nm/rights_asia_dc


June 4th
Families of June 4th victims urge to review June 4th massacre in Open Letter
六四难属公开致函两会代表，呼吁讨论审议八九六四事件
Radio Free Asia, February 28, 2005
Ding Zilin and more than 100 other family members of people killed or injured in the 1989 crackdown in Tiananmen Square wrote an open letter to the National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference urging for reviewing the incident.
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/xinwen/2005/02/28/dingzilin/

News

Education
Extra investment in education urged
SCMP, March 1, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZJKY9585E.html

Environment
GDP ecological costs closely calculated
Xinhuanet.com, March 1, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/01/content_263
1851.htm

Gender – marriage
Divorce rate surges 20pc in one year
SCMP, March 1, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZUJFJ985E.html

Gender – sex workers
Featured article: Aids epidemic in China provides insights for legalizing sex work?
京虎子来稿：艾滋病推动中国“妓女合法化”？
Chinesenewsnet.com, February 28, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/Opinion/2005
_2_28_10_9_7_688.html

Government – governance and accountability
Excerpted article: What have China achieved in the past two years under the leadership of Hu and Wen?
明报：「胡温新政」两年成绩单
Chinesenewsnet.com, March 1, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/SinoNews/Main
land/2005_2_28_17_4_17_974.html

Top legislature to conduct law enforcement inspections
People’s Daily, March 1, 2005
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200503/01/eng20050301_
175031.html

Who audit the Audit Department?
谁来审计审计部门
China Youth Daily, March 1, 2005
http://zqb.cyol.com/gb/zqb/2005-03/01/content_1039382.htm

Hukou
Freedom of mobility: the ultimate goal of the Hukou legislation
迁徙自由：户籍立法的终极目标
China Youth Daily, March 1, 2005
http://zqb.cyol.com/gb/zqb/2005-03/01/content_1039372.htm

Labour – protests
4 labour activists arrested after participating in a Shenzhen labour protest
深圳工潮四工人被拘捕
Radio Free Asia, February 27, 2005
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/xinwen/2005/02/27/gongchao/

Law – legal profession
An unfortunate day for dissidents’ lawyer Guo Guoting (郭國汀): computer and lawyer license taken away by the authority
郭国汀律师遭遇黑色元宵节
Boxun News, February 28, 2005
http://www.peacehall.com/news/gb/china/2005/02/20050228
1849.shtml

Politics
New call for crackdown on 'hostile forces'
The Standard, March 1, 2005
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/stdn/std/China/GC01Ad08.html

CPPCC leader calls for democracy, unity for coming annual session
People’s Daily, March 1, 2005
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200503/01/eng20050301_
175030.html

Politics – NPC
Chinese top legislature publicizes annual legislation plan with 31 drafts
People’s Daily, March 1, 2005
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200503/01/eng20050301_
175028.html

Political dissidents (imprisonment)
Dissident jailed and exploited the right to work for involving in the setup of new political party
参与组建新党 被中共监禁并剥夺工作权
Dajiyuan.com, March 1, 2005
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/5/3/1/n830921.htm

Protests and petitions / Public health
Sars victims blast officials for ignoring their plight
SCMP, March 1, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZRKY9585E.html

Public health – HIV aids
In her own words: Aids orphan accuses her adopted father of embezzling her donated funds
捐款疑遭“養父”吞佔 艾滋孤兒的血淚自白
Asia Times Online, February 28, 2005
http://www.atchinese.com/2005/02/0228rep.htm

Religion
China Enacting New Regulations on Religion
AP via YahooNews.com, February 28, 2005
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=516&ncid
=731&e=10&u=/ap/20050228/ap_on_re_as/china_religion

Rural issues
Disenfranchised farmers are paying the price
SCMP, March 1, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZIJFJ985E.html

Society – ethnic minority
Minorities to receive more funding
SCMP, March 1, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZLF0A585E.html

North Korea
U.S. Slams China's Repatriation of North Koreans
Radio Free Asia, February 25, 2005
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/2005/02/25/us_nkorea/

Sunday, February 27, 2005

February 26-28, 2005

Top news of the day

Detention – Chen Xiaoming (陳小明)
Shanghai rights activist Chen Xiaoming detained before US Consulate visit
上海一维权者(陳小明)在见美领事前被截
Voice of America, February 26, 2005
Shanghai resident, Chen Xiaoming (陳小明), is reported taken away by the police on his way to an appointment at the U.S. Consulate to speak with a consular official about the case of detained petitioner Mao Hengfeng (毛恒鳯).
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2005-02-26-voa41.cfm




News

Corruption
Wen in new salvo against corruption
SCMP, February 28, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZH8KK985E.html

International anti-corruption group Transparency International talks about corruption in China
国际反腐组织谈中外腐败
Voice of America, February 27, 2005
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2005-02-27-voa33.cfm

Environment - disasters
Yellow River Ice Thaw a Threat
China Daily, February 28, 2005
http://china.org.cn/english/China/121368.htm#

Human rights
China, Egypt, Sudan among countries cited for human rights abuses
Associated Press Newswires, 28 February 2005
The U.S. State Department in its annual report on human rights found systematic torture in Syria, serious abuses in China and the killing of civilians by government-backed militia in Sudan's troubled Darfur province.
http://www3.cjad.com/content/cp_article.asp?id=/global_feeds/CanadianPress/WorldNews/w022835A.htm

Labour – employment market
Officials refuse to admit labour crisis
SCMP, February 26, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ1KIK985E.html

'We just can't find suitable candidates'
SCMP, February 26, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZXJIK985E.html

Labour – industrial accidents
Coal mine accident kills 4 in Shaan'xi
Xinhuanet.com, February 26, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-02/26/content_262
2083.htm

Law
12 new laws to take effect on March 1
从3月1日起12项新法律法规新春添暖意
Xinhuanet.com, February 28, 2005
http://politics.people.com.cn/GB/1026/3206118.html

Criminal Law Amended to Curb Credit Card Crimes
Xinhua News Agency, February 26, 2005
http://china.org.cn/english/government/121244.htm

Law – judicial system
UN hits out at China's judicial system for political and arbitrary bias
AFP via YahooNews.com, February 25, 2005
http://au.news.yahoo.com/050225/19/t8mn.html

Expert Witness System to Be Changed
Xinhua News Agency February 26, 2005
China's expert witnesses, who are currently employed by judicial or other public departments, will soon be independent civil agents, according to a draft decision on appraisal of justice submitted to China's top legislature Friday.
http://china.org.cn/english/government/121247.htm

Natural resources and energy
Seasonal blackouts expected instead of major power cuts
SCMP, February 26, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZJTS9585E.html

Police – administrative detention (labour camp)
UN urges China to review labour camps system
ABC via YahooNews.com, February 26, 2005
http://au.news.yahoo.com/050226/21/t8ya.html

Politics
Jiang's departure will complete transition of power
SCMP, February 28, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZW3X9585E.html

Population – one-child policy
Tougher line sought on aborting girl fetuses
SCMP, February 28, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ0TU9585E.html

Political dissidents – Hada (哈達)
US congressman urges China to release Mogol dissident Hada
美议员促胡锦涛释放蒙古族异议人士哈达
Chinesenewsnet.com, February 25, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/SinoNews/Main
land/2005_2_25_18_26_31_422.html

Protests and petitions – UN
Full text of an open petition letter to UN submitted by 106 Chinese dissidents
附件：中国106人致联合国公开信
Voice of America, February 26, 2005
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2005-02-26-voa7.cfm

Public health
New Henan Health Checks Prove Controversial
China Daily, February 26, 2005
When compulsory HIV/AIDS and venereal disease testing became a must for all public entertainment employees in Henan Province four days ago, officials were not banking on the public debate which followed.
http://china.org.cn/english/China/121254.htm

Reform - population control
Criminal Penalties Mulled for Gender-based Abortions
China Daily, February 28, 2005
Members of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) called on Saturday for a new criminal law prohibiting gender-based abortion and fetal gender identification for non-medical purposes.
http://china.org.cn/english/2005/Feb/121283.htm

Rewards Give Impetus to One-child Policy
Xinhua News Agency February 27, 2005
Zhang Jianli and Wang Shulian, an old couple in a village of Chengde in north China's Hebei Province, recently received 1,200 yuan (US$144) in rewards from the local government for sticking to the government's one-child policy.
http://china.org.cn/english/China/121371.htm

Religion
China to enact new regulations on religious freedom
Associated Press Newswires, 28 February 2005
China is implementing new religious regulations that the government says will protect freedom of faith. Critics complain that the broad guidelines could instead be used to persecute religious groups.
www.ap.org

Society
Seeking a modern role for ancient values
SCMP, February 26, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZAM9J985E.html

Society – ethnicity
China publishes white paper on regional autonomy for ethnic minorities
Xinhuanet.com, February 28, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-02/28/content_262
7889.htm

Hong Kong – the Basic Law
Think-tank to study HK-Beijing ties
SCMP, February 28, 2005
http://hongkong.scmp.com/hknews/ZZZ98KK985E.html

Tibet
China says minority separatists still active
Associated Press Newswires, 28 February 2005
China condemned alleged ethnic minority separatists Monday, saying they're backing independence for Tibet and the country's far western Muslim region.
www.ap.org

Friday, February 25, 2005

February 25, 2005

Top news of the day

June 4th – prisoners – Zhao Ziyang
Lawyer quit in the midst of stiff pressures over Lin Mu’s lawsuit against police’s illegal detention
前胡耀邦秘书状告公安遭压顶
Voice of America, February 24, 2005
Gao Zhisheng (高智晟), one of the lawyer of Li Mu (林枚)’s lawsuit against Xian police for illegal detention, decided to withdraw from the case yesterday. Yet, the withdrawal is believed to be related to stiff political pressures from the government and the communist party on the lawsuit. http://www.voanews.com/chinese/2005-02-24-voa60.cfm

Protests and petitions - UN
Activists call on UN to intervene over rights
SCMP, February 25, 2005
106 mainland political activists submitted a petition letter to the UN calling for intervention in China’s human rights issues and the release of several dissidents including Shi Tao (師濤), Ye Guozhu (葉國柱), Zhao Xin (趙昕) and Zhang Lin (張林).
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZCBR9585E.html



News


Education
The development of National School Fees Sponsorship Scheme
国家助学贷款发展脉络
China Youth Daily, February 25, 2005
http://zqb.cyol.com/gb/zqb/2005-02/25/content_1037814.htm

Two fundamental directions for fixing existing education policy
教育政策调整的两个根本方向
Nanfang Weekend, February 24, 2005
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/zm/20050224/xw/ttzs/2005
02240002.asp

Gender
Chinese woman, 104, can stay
SCMP, February 25, 2005
http://asia.scmp.com/asianews/ZZZBEP9585E.html

June 4th – EU arms ban
EU trade commissioner urges China to provide solid evidence to justify EU’s move to lift arms ban
曼德尔森敦促北京提供能解除武禁的证据
Radio Free Asia, February 25, 2005
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/xinwen/2005/02/24/wuqijinling/

Europe sees ending China arms embargo as way to better ties
International Herald Tribune, February 25, 2005
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/02/24/news/arms.html

China Arms Embargo Not What It Seems
AP via YahooNews.com, February 24, 2005
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050224/
ap_on_re_eu/europe_arms_to_china_3

Government – civil service
Bureaucrats lose chance of another pay increase
SCMP, February 25, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZAPEK985E.html

Hukou
3 major shortcomings of China’s hukou systems provokes the needs for new law
我国户籍管理制度存三大弊端 将制定新户籍法
Xinhuanet.com, February 24, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2005-02/24/content
_2612666.htm




Multilaterals - UN
UN hits out at China's judicial system for political and arbitrary bias
AFP, Feb 25, 2005
The United Nations has urged China to better safeguard constitutionally protected rights and criticised Beijing for arbitrarily jailing those who peacefully voice religious and political views.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/afp/2005
0225/wl_asia_afp/chinaunrights

Protests and petitions
Amendments to Improve Petition System
China Daily, February 24, 2005
Approved by the State Council on January 5, newly revised regulation on citizen petitions, which will take effect on May 1, signals the government's determination to bring the petition system in line with the changing times and create a more harmonious society.
http://service.china.org.cn/link/wcm/Show_Text?info_id=121087
&p_qry=law


Public health – HIV aids
China Must Expand AIDS Fight – UNICEF
Reuters via YahooNew.com, February 25, 2005
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20050224
/wl_nm/aids_china_unicef_dc_1

Rural issues - migrants
Province Sets up Worker Database
China Daily, February 25. 2005
An information certificate system for rural laborers from northeast Heilongjiang Province is expected to be completed later this year.
http://china.org.cn/english/government/121134.htm

Rural issues - development
Rural Social Security System Vital to Nation's Development
China Daily, February 24, 2005
The Ministry of Labour and Social Security has hammered out a plan for establishing a social security system in China's rural areas, according to the 21st Century Business Herald.
http://china.org.cn/english/China/121101.htm

Three Gorges
Chongqing focuses on Three Gorges diaspora
SCMP, February 25, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ3QEK985E.html

Thursday, February 24, 2005

February 24, 2005

Top news of the day

Detention – Wang Mingqing (王明清)
Shanghai Petitioner Wang Mingqing Detained
Human Rights in China, February 23, 2005
According to Human rights in China, a human rights group based in New York and Hong Kong, a Shanghai resident Wang Mingqing (王明清) was placed under administrative detention on February 16 for ‘causing trouble’. The detention is believed to be related to Wang’s persistent petitioning the Chinese authorities over the destruction of his home in an urban redevelopment project.
http://www.hrichina.org/public/contents/press?revision%5fid=
20519&item%5fid=20518

Hukou
Public Security Bureau plans to draft new household registration law, submission date for the draft yet to be set
公安部:我国将制定新户籍法 提审日期尚未确定
People’s Daily, February 23, 2005
Deputy Chief of the Public Security Bureau said that the Bureau is preparing for drafting a new household registration law to address issues of accelerating labour mobility and inequality in the society; however, a time-table for submitting the draft has yet to be set.
http://legal.people.com.cn/GB/42735/3198817.html



News

Corruption
Mystifying budgets fuel graft, says magazine
SCMP, February 24, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ5D3J985E.html

Public fund used in 80% of bribery cases
八成中国行贿者使用公款行贿
Dajiyuan.com, February 24, 2005
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/5/2/24/n824875.htm

Environment
China's southern boomtown must clean up its act, mayor admits
AFP via YahooNews.com, February 24, 2005
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1530&
ncid= 731&e=4&u=/afp/20050224/wl_asia_afp/chinabritainenvi
ronmentshenzhen

Chinese environmental groups support punishment for projects failing to meet standards
中国环保组织支持惩罚违建工程
Voice of America, February 23, 2005
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2005-02-23-voa48.cfm

3 major rivers heavily polluted
Xinhuanet.com, February 23, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-02/23/content_260907
1.htm

China Resettles Hundreds of Thousands from Dam Site
Reuters, Feb 24, 2005
China has resettled about three quarters of the more than 1 million people forced from their homes by the massive Three Gorges Dam project but now must find ways to employ them, officials said on Thursday.
http://story.chinanationalnews.com/p.x/ct/9/id/bceea51b024d9
be4/cid/9366300fc9319e9b/

Human rights
US human rights report on China to criticize China’s poor human rights record
讨论：美人权报告将再次指责中国人权状况
Dajiyuan.com, February 24, 2005
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/5/2/24/n824846.htm

June 4th – EU arms ban
Schroeder confident EU will lift embargo
SCMP, February 24, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZULM9585E.html

China Arms Embargo Not What It Seems
Associated Press Newswires, 24 February 2005
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D88F30F80.htm

Europe Wants China Sales But Not Just of Weapons
The New York Times, 24 February 2005
To some critics, Europe's plan to lift its arms embargo on China is simply a way to make sure its weapons makers claim a slice of one of the world's largest military budgets. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/24/international/europe/24
weapons.html

June 4th – Prisoners – Zhao Ziyang
Funeral Committee of Zhao Ziyang urges the Communist Party to investigate criminal liabilities for ordering illegal detention of innocent citizens
来稿：敦请审查中共非法拘禁公民赵紫阳的法人犯罪问题
Chinesenewsnet.com, February 24, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/Opinion/2005_
2_23_18_21_27_730.html

Lawyers speak about Lin Mu’s lawsuit against Xian Police over illegal detention
高智晟 刘军国律师谈林牧起诉西安公安局
Dajiyuan.com, February 24, 2005
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/5/2/24/n824831.htm

Labour – employment market
Featured article: labour rights protection is fundamental in revolving labour shortages
李强来稿：保障工人的权利才是解决“民工荒”的根本办法
Chinesenewsnet.com, February 24, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/Opinion/2005_
2_23_19_18_26_97.html

Labour – industrial accidents (Fuxin case)
Safety chief faces probe after blast
SCMP, February 24, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZILM9585E.html

Media - Internet
China restates view on international management of Internet
Xinhua News Agency, 24 February 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-02/25/content_26166
02.htm

Police
Public Security Bureau to announce regulations to prevent and correct prolong detention
公安部即将出台规定预防和纠正超期羁押
China Youth Daily, February 24, 2005
http://zqb.cyol.com/gb/zqb/2005-02/24/content_1036813.htm

Protests and petitions
Petitioners Dragged From Gates as China's Leaders Hold Social Justice Meeting
Radio Free Asia, February 23, 2005
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/2005/02/23/china_petitioners/

Public health – HIV aids
Funding crunch threatens group helping Aids orphans
SCMP, February 24, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZQ3O9585E.html

UNICEF calls on China to treat AIDS as a general public health issue
Agence France Presse, 24 February 2005
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory?id=526812

Rural issues – taxation
Tax burden remains on farmers despite agricultural tax scrapped
农业税取消后农民仍是纳税人
China Youth Daily, February 24, 2005
http://zqb.cyol.com/gb/zqb/2005-02/24/content_1036933.htm

Wednesday, February 23, 2005

February 23, 2005

Top news of the day

June 4th – prisoners – Zhao Ziyang
Zhao supporter to sue over 'abduction'
SCMP, February 23, 2005
Mainland dissident Lin Mu (林牧) is set to file a lawsuit against Xian state police for illegally detaining him after the death of former Party Secretary Zhao Ziyang.
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZZL8K985E.html



June 4th – EU arms ban
Bush warns Europe not to lift arms embargo against China
SCMP, February 23, 2005
US President George Bush warned EU that the US congress might retaliate if EU lifts the arms embargo against China.
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZAQK9585E.html




News

Death penalty
Chief Judge says China would strictly limit giving death sentence
肖扬：中国严控死刑的适用 严格判处死刑的程序
Chinesenewsnet.com, February 22, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/SinoNews/Main
land/zxs_2005-02-22_542472.shtml

Education
University free if students go west
SCMP, February 23, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZJM8K985E.html

Environment
River pollution remains chronic
SCMP, February 23, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZAG0J985E.html

A Deadly Fever, Once Defeated, Lurks in a Chinese Lake
New York Times, February 22, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/22/international/asia/22
snail.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1109149485-8tQwkOB6OoCYY
QicYb9+Hg

Labour – industrial accidents
1 died and 13 injured in Guangdong firework workshop blast
广东茂名私炮作坊发生爆炸造成1人死亡13人受伤
EastDay.com, February 23, 2005
http://china.eastday.com/eastday/news/node37955/node37957/
node37979/node51109/userobject1ai884314.html

China acts over mining disaster
BBC, 2.23.2005
The vice-governor of China's Liaoning province has been suspended in connection with last week's mine disaster, in which 214 miners died. http://story.chinanationalnews.com/p.x/ct/9/id/6013bd4c7a0db6dc/cid/9366300fc9319e9b/

Law
Judicial interpretation facilitates equity and justice and enhances public understanding to law enforcement
公正公平、便民利民：中国2004年新司法解释解读
Chinesenewsnet.com, February 23, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/SinoNews/Main
land/zxs_2005-02-23_542720.shtml

Chinese Chief Justice on Human Rights Protection in Administration of Justice
People’s Daily, February 23, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/SinoNews/Main
land/zxs_2005-02-23_542507.shtml

Law – legal profession
Why senior lawyers not keen to be judges?
热点追踪：资深律师缘何不热衷当法官
People’s Daily, February 23, 2005
http://legal.people.com.cn/GB/42731/3196441.html

Lawyers’ rights and responsibilities should be explicitly emphasized in the upcoming revision of the procedural laws
观点透视：律师权责在两法修订中要合理分布
People’s Daily, February 23, 2005
http://legal.people.com.cn/GB/42731/3196431.html

Politics
Draft of gov't work report discussed at Politburo meeting
People’s Daily, February 22, 2005
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200502/22/eng20050222_174
292.html

Public Health
Clinton Hails China's AIDS Progress, Offers Help
Reuters, Feb 23,2005
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton said Wednesday China has made progress in fighting AIDS since he last visited in 2003 and his foundation would give drugs and help train doctors battling the disease.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/nm/20050223/pl_nm/aids_china_clinton_dc

WTO / rural issues
Chinese farmers are the victims of China’s access to the WTO, a World Bank report revealed
世界银行报告：中国农民成入世受害者
Chinesenewsnet.com, February 23, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/SinoNews/Main
land/zxs_2005-02-23_542720.shtml



Tuesday, February 22, 2005

February 22, 2005

News

Death penalty
Chengdu corrupt official sentenced to death for taking bribes totaling 14 million yuan
成都贪官索受贿1400余万一审判死刑
Dajiyuan.com, February 22, 2005
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/5/2/22/n820445.htm

Food security – food safety
China strengthens food quality supervision
Xinhuanet.com, February 22, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-02/22/content_2602
733.htm

Gender – abuse
Abused woman got a reprieve after convicted of murdering her husband
包头一妇女抗虐杀夫获刑3年缓刑5年
ChinaYouthOnline.com, February 21, 2005
http://news.cyol.com/gb/news/2005-02/21/content_1034965.htm

Gender – discrimination
25 married daughter in Gansu get back land right after 10 years of lawsuit
甘肃:25名“出嫁女” 10年讨回土地权
People’s Daily, February 18, 2005
http://legal.people.com.cn/GB/42734/43193/3186101.html

June 4th – EU arms ban
Chirac, Bush discuss China arms embargo
SCMP, February 22, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZS8YI985E.html



Labour – industrial accidents (Fuxin Case)
Grief-stricken coal city's grim realities
SCMP, February 22, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chifeatures/ZZZSKYJ985E.html

Labour - industrial accidents
Body of final missing miner found after deadly Chinese coal disaster
AP, February 22, 2005
The body of the last missing miner from a Feb. 14 coal mine explosion in northeast China has been found, bringing the death toll from the disaster to 214, the government said Tuesday.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/cpress/2005
0222/ca_pr_on_wo/china_mine_explosions

The grim cost of China's 'economic miracle'
Telegraph, 20/02/2005
With the shock of the newly widowed, Xiao Zhang gabbles about school fees, rent and electricity bills and wonders aloud how she can pay them after yet another mining disaster in China.
http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/
02/20/wchin20.xml

State fails to allocate safety funds as China mine toll rises to 214
AFP, February 22, 2005
The government announced a glaring 50 billion yuan (six billion dollar) shortfall in coal mine safety funding as the death toll from a disaster in northeastern China rose to 214, state press said.
http://story.chinanationalnews.com/p.x/ct/9/id/af415e67ee2e
266a/cid/9366300fc9319e9b/

Labour – union
Feasibility of forming trade union for rural migrant workers under study
中国政府研究建立农民工工会的可能性
Radio Free Asia, February 21, 2005
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/xinwen/2005/02/21/nongmingong/

Legal – legal aid
Voluntary legal aid seen to help poor
Xinhuanet.com, February 22, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-02/22/content_26023
79.htm

300,000 people benefited from legal aid last year
去年近30万人受益法律援助
BeijingNews.com, February 22, 2005
http://www.thebeijingnews.com/news/2005/0222/7@5100.html

Media – internet
Featured article from Wang Dan: bypassing internet blockage to get free access to political and news internet sites
王丹：绕过封锁，自由浏览境外时政网站
Chinesenewsnet.com, February 22, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/Opinion/2005_
2_21_19_41_57_55.html

“Cyber assembly” opens the window for democratic politics in China
“网友议政”打开民主议政的“窗口”
People’s Daily, February 22, 2005
http://legal.people.com.cn/GB/42731/3192424.html

Politics
China relax control over democracy?
中共在民主上出现松动?
Voice of America, February 21, 2005
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2005-02-21-voa51.cfm

Public health
China sticks to its guns in clone wars
SCMP, February 22, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZKZH9585E.html



Reform - CCP

China Targets Corrupt Officials In a Battle Against Temptation
Communist Party Has Vowed to Wipe Out Gambling in 2005
Washington Post, February 20, 2005
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A38448-2005
Feb19.html?nav=rss_world

Rural issues – taxation
Zero agricultural tax burden realized amongst Guangdong farmers
广东农民税费实现零负担
Nanfang Daily, February 22, 2005
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/southnews/dd/nfrb/A01/2005
02220041.asp

WTO / economic development
WTO entry worth US$40b a year, study says
SCMP, February 22, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ52G9585E.html

Taiwan
China expresses "serious concern" over US-Japan statement on Taiwan
AFP, Feb 20, 2005
BEIJING (AFP) - Beijing expressed "serious concern" about a US and Japanese statement which described Taiwan as a common security issue amid China's military build-up.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/afp/2005
0220/wl_asia_afp/usjapantalkstaiwanchina
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