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, August 18, 2015

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

After Tianjin blasts, people demand action
天津爆炸后民众要求答复和行动
Voice of America, August 17, 2015
EN: http://www.voanews.com/content/death-toll-rises-in-tianjin-disaster-as-residents-seek-compensation/2920701.html
CH: http://www.voachinese.com/content/tianjin-blast-after-20150817/2921492.html

Beijing “encircled by security checkpoints” ahead of war anniversary parade
Radio Free Asia, August 17, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/china-parade-08172015141953.html

Nomad mother calls out for Tibetan freedom, is detained
阿坝一牧女示威抗议被捕
Radio Free Asia, August 17, 2015
EN: http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/nomad-08172015143950.html
CH: http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shaoshuminzu/dz-08172015120818.html

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Tianjin blasts shake public confidence in leadership, analysts say
South China Morning Post, August 17, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/1850351/tianjin-blasts-shake-public-confidence-leadership-analysts-say

Related:
Confusion mounts over Tianjin warehouse ownership
天津爆炸涉案仓库所有权成谜
The Financial Times, August 17, 2015
EN: http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/af116316-44bd-11e5-af2f-4d6e0e5eda22.html
CH: http://www.ftchinese.com/story/001063541

天津爆炸事故"头七"祭 瑞海多名高层被控制 (“First 7 days” of Tianjin explosion: residents and rescuers hold memorials for victims, 10 senior-level of Ruihai employees are under police control)
Deutsche Welle, August 18, 2015
http://bit.ly/1UQjNxg

天津爆炸中的受损房屋,谁赔?(Tianjin explosion: who will pay for the damaged houses?)
Caijing, August 17, 2015
http://blog.caijing.com.cn/expert_article-151570-85328.shtml

天津爆炸受损市民户数超过1.7万 (Tianjin explosion: residents of damaged homes exceed 17,000)
British Broadcasting Corporation, August 18, 2015
http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/china/2015/08/150818_tianjin_blast_compensation

Former Chinese power company boss goes on trial on corruption charges
South China Morning Post, August 18, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1850398/former-chinese-power-company-boss-goes-trial-corruption

Shanxi arrests four ex-party officials for graft
The Standard, August 17, 2015
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=65596

China dismisses warning about agents operating secretly in U.S.
The New York Times, August 17, 2015
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/18/world/asia/china-obama-administration-warning-agents-us.html

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

Expert tips: How to follow cybersecurity
Foreign Policy, August 17, 2015
http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/08/17/expert-tips-how-to-follow-cybersecurity/

Hong Kong (香港)

Six challenges to Hong Kong’s judicial independence
Hong Kong Free Press, August 17, 2015
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2015/08/17/six-challenges-to-hong-kongs-judicial-independence/

Opinion and Editorial (观点和社论)

Without transparency, probe into Tianjin blasts will yield few answers
South China Morning Post, August 18, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1850358/without-transparency-probe-tianjin-blasts-will-yield-few

Rooting out PLA corruption is helping Xi Jinping to build his power base
South China Morning Post, August 17, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1850147/rooting-out-pla-corruption-helping-xi-jinping-build-his

Scaling China’s Great Firewall
The New York Times, August 18, 2015
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/18/opinion/murong-xuecun-scaling-chinas-great-firewall.html

Monday, August 17, 2015

Access to Justice (司法公正)

China's embattled lawyers
British Broadcasting Corporation, Newshour Extra, August 15, 2015
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02yg6z4

Related:
Mass suppression of lawyers reveals true nature of Xi’s “rule by law”
对维权律师的大规模镇压揭示了习近平“依法治国”的真实面目
Human Rights in China, July 16, 2015
EN: http://www.hrichina.org/en/mass-crackdown-chinese-lawyers-and-defenders
CH: http://hrichina.org/chs/zhong-guo-da-gui-mo-zhen-ya-wei-quan-lu-shi-he-huo-yue-ren-shi

重庆拟出台遗体和人体器官捐献条例 买卖器官最高可处交易额十倍罚款 (Chongqing drafts corpse and human organ donation regulations, highest fine for trafficking organs is 10 times the value of transaction )
Legal Daily, August 17, 2015
http://epaper.legaldaily.com.cn/fzrb/content/20150817/Articel03003GN.htm

公安监管部门出台系列措施保障律师会见权 律师看守所会见一般半小时内安排 (Ministry of public security supervisory department proposes a series of measures to ensure lawyers' rights to access clients, lawyers can usually arrange a meeting at a detention center within half an hour)
Legal Daily, August 17, 2015
http://epaper.legaldaily.com.cn/fzrb/content/20150817/Articel05003GN.htm

Excerpt:
上海市闵行区看守所所长洪革说:“目前,除危害国家安全犯罪等三类犯罪嫌疑人会见需要侦查机关许可外,其他案件辩护律师凭‘三证’均可会见,只要不存在犯罪嫌疑人住院、侦查机关正在提审等情形,一般半小时内都能安排会见。”
Shanghai Minhang District Detention Center Chief Hong Ge: “At present, aside from meeting with suspects in 3 types of cases, including endangering state security, which requires the approval of investigating authorities, in other cases, as long as the suspect is not hospitalized or going through pre-trial procedures with investigating authorities, defense lawyers possessing ‘3 forms of documentation’ can normally arrange a meeting within half an hour.”

银川人大常委会废止4项法规 (Yinchuan abolishes juvenile protection regulations, construction management regulations, budgetary oversight regulations, and private medical facilities regulations on the basis that they conflict with superior laws)
Legal Daily, August 17, 2015
http://epaper.legaldaily.com.cn/fzrb/content/20150817/Articel03008GN.htm

Access to Information (信息公开)

爆炸涉事企业安评公司遭质疑 因信息公开被表扬 (An Ping, company involved in Tianjin explosions is under suspicion but is praised for making its safety assessment report public)
China Youth Daily, August 17, 2015
http://news.qq.com/a/20150816/003595.htm

China’s censors scramble to contain online fallout after Tianjin blast
The Wall Street Journal, August 14, 2015
http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2015/08/14/chinas-censors-scramble-to-contain-online-fallout-after-tianjin-blast/

Related:
Chinese media accuse authorities of lack of transparency after Tianjin explosions
The Telegraph, August 17, 2015
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/11806790/Chinese-media-accuse-authorities-of-lack-of-transparency-after-Tianjin-explosions.html

“There'll be no cover-up over Tianjin blasts”, says Communist Party mouthpiece, as death toll rises to 114
South China Morning Post, August 17, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/1850117/therell-be-no-cover-over-tianjin-blasts-says-communist-party

Interference with foreign journalists covering the Tianjin explosion
Foreign Correspondents' Club of China, August 15, 2015
http://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1sn8shj

Video: The songs China doesn't want you to hear
British Broadcasting Corporation, August 17, 2015
http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-33935355

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Public anger grows as China confirms hundreds of tonnes of cyanide were held at blast-hit port of Tianjin
South China Morning Post, August 17, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/1850084/public-anger-grows-china-confirms-hundreds-tonnes-cyanide-were

Related:
天津爆炸现场附近居民促政府回购房屋 (Residents near Tianjin explosion urge government to buy back their properties)
Deutsche Welle, August 16, 2015
http://www.dw.com/zh/天津爆炸现场附近居民促政府回购房屋/a-18652011

Buy our ruined homes, Tianjin explosion victims tell Chinese government
South China Morning Post, August 16, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/1850021/buy-our-ruined-homes-tianjin-explosion-victims-tell-chinese

天津爆炸中失踪消防员家属举行抗议 (Families of missing firemen hold protest)
Voice of America, August 17, 2015
http://www.voachinese.com/media/video/2919965.html

Protests as U.S. calls for release of detained Chinese rights lawyers
Radio Free Asia, August 14, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/protests-as-us-calls-for-release-of-detained-chinese-rights-lawyers-08142015110040.html

Bloggers ridicule Chinese film placing Mao Zedong at key wartime conference
The Guardian, August 17, 2015
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/17/bloggers-ridicule-chinese-film-placing-mao-zedong-at-key-wartime-conference

Government Accountability (政府问责)

天津爆炸事故善后难 (Relief and rehabilitation for Tianjin explosion will be difficult)
Financial Times, August 17, 2015
http://www.ftchinese.com/story/001063531

李克强:要彻查追责,给遇难者家属和历史一个交代 (Li Keqiang: Thorough accountability for victims' families and for history)
People's Daily, August 17, 2015
http://politics.people.com.cn/n/2015/0817/c1001-27472697.html

Related:
天津大爆炸:总理李克强要求彻查追责 (Tianjin explosion: PM Li Keqiang demands thorough accountability)
British Broadcasting Corporation, August 16, 2015
http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/china/2015/08/150816_china_tianjin_blast

Chinese prosecutors announce probe into deadly warehouse blasts
Deutsche Welle, August 16, 2015
http://www.dw.com/en/chinese-prosecutors-announce-probe-into-deadly-warehouse-blasts/a-18652367

Related:
Son of former Tianjin police chief linked to company behind explosions
Hong Kong Free Press, August 17, 2015
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2015/08/17/son-of-former-tianjin-police-chief-linked-to-company-behind-explosions/

China says human rights should not dominate U.S. ties
Reuters, August 14, 2015
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/14/us-usa-china-rights-idUSKCN0QJ2EQ20150814

Related:
On-the-record briefing on the 19th U.S.-China Human Rights Dialogue
U.S. Department of State, August 13, 2015
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2015/08/246092.htm

HRIC Commentary: U.S.–China Human Rights Dialogue
Human Rights in China, August 12, 2015
http://www.hrichina.org/en/press-work/statement/hric-commentary-us-china-human-rights-dialogue

U.S. tells China to stop using agents to force expatriates to return home
The Telegraph, August 16, 2015
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/11806703/US-tells-China-to-stop-using-agents-to-force-expatriates-to-return-home.html

China's financial regulators urged to promote transparency, reduce complexity
South China Morning Post, August 15, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/economy/article/1849655/chinas-financial-regulators-urged-promote-transparency-reduce

Chinese vice-president Li Yuanchao’s former aide sacked for “corrupting others”
South China Morning Post, August 14, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1849654/chinese-vice-president-li-yuanchaos-former-aide-sacked

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

Chinese hackers attack University of Virginia email, cause IT shutdown
Examiner.com, August 14, 2015
http://www.examiner.com/article/chinese-hackers-attack-university-of-virginia-email-cause-it-shutdown

Hong Kong (香港)

C.Y. Leung spends birthday in mainland China amid protests in Hong Kong
Hong Kong Free Press, August 13, 2015
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2015/08/13/cy-leung-spends-birthday-in-mainland-china-amid-protests-in-hong-kong/

Video: Student leader Joshua Wong shares Occupy experience at Venice summit
Hong Kong Free Press, August 13, 2015
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2015/08/13/video-student-leader-joshua-wong-shares-occupy-experience-at-venice-summit/

Opinion and Editorial (观点和社论)

天津爆炸击碎了中国中产阶级的“正常国家幻觉” (The Tianjin explosion has shattered the Chinese middle class’s "illusion of a normal country")
Qiangwailou, August 17, 2015
http://www.letscorp.net/archives/93700

He Xiaoxin: How far can I go? And how much can I do?
China Digital Times, August 15, 2015
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2015/08/he-xiaoxin-how-far-can-i-go-and-how-much-can-i-do/

观察:谁在主导天津大爆炸的调查方向 (Observation: Who is maneuvering direction of Tianjin explosion investigation)
British Broadcasting Corporation, August 17, 2015
http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/china/2015/08/150817_tianjin_blast_investigation_direction

You’ve got candles, I’ve got a whip
China Change, August 16, 2015
http://chinachange.org/2015/08/16/youve-got-candles-ive-got-a-whip/

点评中国:天津爆炸——一个时代的终结 (China commentary: Tianjin explosion—The end of an era)
British Broadcasting Corporation, August 17, 2015
http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/focus_on_china/2015/08/150817_cr_tianjin_blast_ending_an-era

Authorities must act now to prevent future deadly disasters
South China Morning Post, August 15, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1849707/authorities-must-act-now-prevent-future-deadly-disasters

生育政策改革的“前生后世” (The past and the future of birth control policy)
People's Daily, August 17, 2015
http://health.people.com.cn/n/2015/0817/c398004-27472759.html

中国传媒大学女生被同学杀害案的反思——让男孩子尊重异性的性别教育太缺乏了 (Reflections on China Media University female student killed by her classmate—gender education in China that gets young men to respect the opposite sex is lacking)
China Youth Daily, August 17, 2015
http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/08/14/in-china-the-single-ladies-push-back/

In China, single women live by their own rules
The New York Times, August 14, 2015
http://zqb.cyol.com/html/2015-08/16/nw.D110000zgqnb_20150816_3-04.htm

Friday, August 14, 2015

Access to Justice (司法公正)

China turns down parole bid from jailed Nobel Peace Laureate
Radio Free Asia, August 13, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/parole-08132015111306.html

Related:
Chinese human rights activist Liu Xiaobo receives permission for family visit in prison
Hong Kong Free Press, August 13, 2015
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2015/08/13/chinese-human-rights-activist-liu-xiaobo-receives-permission-for-family-visit-in-prison/

定远老妇不堪家暴杀死丈夫村民求轻判 (Elderly woman from Dingyuan kills husband in sleep after 40 years of domestic abuse, son and villagers petition for lenient sentence)
Anhui Financial Network, August 14, 2015
http://www.ahcaijing.com/html/2015/anhui_0814/7895.html

女子频遭家暴出走“再婚” 因犯重婚罪被判处拘役5个月 (Woman who fled frequent domestic abuse to remarry is detained for 5 months for violating bigamy laws)
Daqingwang, August 13, 2015
http://heilongjiang.dbw.cn/system/2015/08/13/056746710.shtml

Access to Information (信息公开)

天津8.12大爆炸55死701傷 津警:網傳只峰背景是謠言 (Tianjin explosion: 55 dead, 701 injured, Tianjin police deny info that Ruihai Int’l Logistics’ legal representative Zhi Feng is son of Tianjin vice mayor)
South China Morning Post, August 14, 2015
http://www.nanzao.com/tc/national/14f2a168c945061/tian-jin-8-12-da-bao-zha-50-si-701-shang-wu-fa-que-ding-wei-hua-pin-zhong-lei-shu-liang

Related:
Minitrue: media directives on Tianjin port explosions
China Digital Times, August 13, 2015
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2015/08/minitrue-explosions-in-tanggu-open-economic-zone-tianjin/

Inferno: The new rules of disaster management in authoritarian countries
The Economist, August 15, 2015
http://www.economist.com/news/china/21660982-new-rules-disaster-management-authoritarian-countries-inferno-tianjin

The Tianjin explosion, as chronicled on Chinese social media
The Diplomat, August 13, 2015
http://thediplomat.com/2015/08/the-tianjin-explosion-as-chronicled-on-chinese-social-media/

Netizen voices: volunteer 50 cent standards slipping
China Digital Times, August 13, 2015
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2015/08/netizen-voices-declining-standards-in-volunteer-fifty-centism/

Mapping the invisible scourge
The Economist, August 15, 2015
http://www.economist.com/news/china/21661053-new-study-suggests-air-pollution-even-worse-thought-mapping-invisible-scourge

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

被抓律师今安在,有心民众盼回家 (Rights defenders call for vocal support from citizens inside china for lawyers’ release)
Voice of America, August 14, 2015
http://www.voachinese.com/content/china-lawyers-20150813/2916915.html

Related:
示威者聚集中国驻美使馆,抗议镇压维权律师 (Demonstrators gather at Chinese embassy in U.S. to protest crackdown on rights lawyers)
Voice of America, August 14, 2015
http://www.voachinese.com/media/video/chinese-lawyers-20150814/2917620.html

Courageous Voices 向强权说“不!”
Human Rights in China, August 13, 2015
EN: http://www.hrichina.org/en/courageous-voices
CH: http://www.hrichina.org/chs/xiang-qiang-quan-shuo-bu

Artist Ai Weiwei says China at “critical point”
Reuters, August 13, 2015
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/13/us-china-artist-germany-idUSKCN0QI1SL20150813

Dismay as church crosses removed in China
British Broadcasting Corporation, August 13, 2015
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-33898635

Related:
Hong Kong’s Cardinal John Tong issues “urgent appeal” against China cross removals
Hong Kong Free Press, August 13, 2015
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2015/08/13/hong-kongs-cardinal-john-tong-issues-urgent-appeal-against-china-cross-removals/

NGOs, volunteer groups take pollution fight into their own hands
Caixin, August 13, 2015
http://english.caixin.com/2015-08-13/100839309.html

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Obama is set to discuss rights issues with China
The New York Times, August 14, 2015
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/14/world/asia/obama-is-set-to-discuss-rights-issues-with-china.html

Related:
On-the-record briefing on the 19th U.S.-China Human Rights Dialogue
U.S. Department of State, August 13, 2015
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2015/08/246092.htm

HRIC Commentary: U.S.–China Human Rights Dialogue
Human Rights in China, August 12, 2015
http://www.hrichina.org/en/press-work/statement/hric-commentary-us-china-human-rights-dialogue

中共中央印发《中国共产党巡视工作条例》 (CPC issues CPC Inspection Work Regulations)
Legal Daily, August 14, 2015
http://epaper.legaldaily.com.cn/fzrb/content/20150814/Articel01001GN.htm

几乎所有冤案都有刑讯逼供——《财经》平冤系列报道之十 (Almost all wrongly decided cases involve torture: Caijing Righting Injustices Report Series No. 10)
Caijing Magazine, August 13, 2015
http://yuanchuang.caijing.com.cn/2015/0813/3946668.shtml

Former provincial official expelled from CPC
China Daily, August 14, 2015
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2015-08/14/content_21595968.htm

Maoming Deputy Party Chief detained on graft allegations
Caixin, August 13, 2015
http://english.caixin.com/2015-08-13/100839317.html

中国原国家旅游局副局长霍克被双开 (Huo Ke, China's former deputy director of tourism, expelled from Party for corruption)
Radio Free Asia, August 13, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/zhengzhi/hc1-08132015140012.html

最高检依法决定对徐建一立案侦查 (SPP decides to prosecute [former FAW Corp chairman and NPC member] Xu Jianyi)
Legal Daily, August 14, 2015
http://epaper.legaldaily.com.cn/fzrb/content/20150814/Articel01007GN.htm

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

OK Supercomputer: China’s Tianhe-1A shut down after Tianjin blast
The Wall Street Journal, August 14, 2015
http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2015/08/14/ok-supercomputer-chinas-tianhe-1a-shut-down-after-tianjin-blast/

Hong Kong (香港)

Hong Kong convicts 2 in 2014 cleaver attack on journalist
The New York Times, August 13, 2015
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/14/world/asia/hong-kong-convicts-2-in-2014-cleaver-attack-on-journalist.html

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

太原南站发生砍人事件?警方:系反恐演习 (Was there a knife attack at Shanxi Taiyuan south train station? Police: No—it was counterterrorism training)
Legal Daily, August 13, 2014
http://society.people.com.cn/n/2015/0814/c229589-27464890.html

China to intensify public security patrols
China Daily, August 13, 2015
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2015-08/13/content_21592672.htm

Opinion and Editorial (观点和社论)

Hong Kong universities must uphold the absolute principle of academic freedom
South China Morning Post, August13, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1848942/hong-kong-universities-must-uphold-absolute-principle

Is China on the cusp of change?
The Diplomat, August 14, 2015
http://thediplomat.com/2015/08/is-china-on-the-cusp-of-change/

Four questions Chinese people want answered after deadly Tianjin blast
Tea Leaf Nation, August 13, 2015
http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/08/13/four-questions-chinese-people-want-answered-after-deadly-blast-tianjin-citizen-media/