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, January 27, 2016

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Activists, journalists and celebrities: China’s televised confessions
活动家、记者和社会名人的中国式招供
The New York Times, January 21, 2016
EN: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/01/21/world/asia/china-televised-confessions.html
CH: http://cn.nytimes.com/china/20160122/c22confessions/

Access to Information (信息公开)

As editor-informant Li Xin disappears, journalists share their experiences with China's security services
Committee to Protect Journalists, January 25, 2016
https://cpj.org/blog/2016/01/as-editor-informant-li-xin-disappears-journalists-.php

Police criticized for holding man over “two-wife policy” fake news
Caixin, January 25, 2016
http://english.caixin.com/2016-01-25/100903674.html

中国网民数量:6.88亿 (Number of Chinese netizens: 688 million)
Deutsche Welle, January 26, 2016
http://www.dw.com/zh/中国网民数量688亿/a-19005236

中国记者李新泰国失踪后当局封杀其妻声音 (Chinese journalist missing in Thailand, wife muzzled by authorities)
Voice of America, January 27, 2016
http://www.voachinese.com/content/voa-news-dc-chinese-reporters-wife-deeply-concerned-20160126/3163076.html

Related:
美国敦促泰国调查中国记者失踪事件 (U.S. urges Thailand to investigate disappearance of Chinese journalist)
Voice of America, January 27, 2016
http://www.voachinese.com/content/us-china-human-rights-20160126/3164342.html

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Ethnic Mongolians protest missile tests on grasslands, lack of income
Radio Free Asia, January 26, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/china-mongols-01262016161304.html

Swedish Radio interview with human rights activist Peter Dahlin
Sverige Radio, January 26, 2016
http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=83&artikel=6353925

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Inquiry in China adds to doubt over reliability of its economic data
中国统计局局长被查,官方经济数据又添疑云
The New York Times, January 27, 2016
EN: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/27/business/international/china-economy-data-statistics-inquiry.html
CH: http://cn.nytimes.com/business/20160127/c27chinaecon/

Pursuing critics, China reaches across borders. And nobody is stopping it.
The Washington Post, January 26, 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/pursuing-critics-china-reaches-across-borders-and-nobody-is-stopping-it/2016/01/26/cd4959dc-6793-473f-8b74-6cbac3f46422_story.html

U.S. urges Thailand to investigate disappearance of Chinese journalist
Voice of America, January 26, 2016
http://www.voanews.com/content/us-urges-thailand-to-investigate-disappearance-of-chinese-journalist/3164345.html

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

An expansive, and dangerous, Chinese view on cyber deterrence
Council on Foreign Relations: Net Politics, January 25, 2016
http://blogs.cfr.org/cyber/2016/01/25/an-expansive-and-dangerous-chinese-view-on-cyber-deterrence/

China and Indonesia: Joint cyber war simulations
The Diplomat, January 26, 2016
http://thediplomat.com/2016/01/china-and-indonesia-joint-cyber-war-simulations/

Hong Kong (香港)

Surrounded: University of Hong Kong students besiege governing council meeting, demand talks with Arthur Li
South China Morning Post, January 27, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1905784/surrounded-university-hong-kong-students-besiege-governing

Related:
港大召警入校园惹学生不满 将设小组检讨大学管治 (HKU students discontented with university calling in the police, Council to set up a committee to review university governance)
Radio France Internationale, January 27, 2016
http://cn.rfi.fr/政治/20160127-港大召警入校园惹学生不满-将设小组检讨大学管治

Publisher warns of China's campaign to “wipe out” free speech in Hong Kong (+video)
Christian Science Monitor, January 26, 2016
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-Pacific/2016/0126/Publisher-warns-of-China-s-campaign-to-wipe-out-free-speech-in-Hong-Kong-video

Hong Kong’s political booksellers face “extermination” threat as China’s Communist Party crackdown and online competition hit sales
South China Morning Post, January 27, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1905779/hong-kongs-political-booksellers-face-extermination-threat

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

New law reshapes Chinese counterterrorism policy and operations
Jamestown Foundation, January 25, 2016
http://www.jamestown.org/programs/chinabrief/single/?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=45016&cHash=be8667ec32b79d60f8ffc4d04235f3ae#.Vqg9WPl97IV

Opinion and Editorial (观点和社论)

The Peter Dahlin case: Shock, awe and mystery
Jerry’s Blog, January 26, 2016
http://www.jeromecohen.net/jerrys-blog/2016/1/26/the-peter-dahlin-case-shock-awe-and-mysetery

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Access to Justice (司法公正)

China's latest crackdown on lawyers is unprecedented, human rights monitors say
ABA Journal, February 1, 2016
http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/chinas_latest_crackdown_on_lawyers_is_unprecedented_human_rights_monitors

Swedish NGO worker Peter Dahlin released from detention, deported from China after TV “confession”
Hong Kong Free Press, January 25, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/01/25/breaking-swedish-ngo-worker-peter-dahlin-forced-to-leave-china-after-being-paraded-on-state-tv-report/

Related:
在华被拘瑞典NGO工作者“被逐出境” 瑞外交部:对桂敏海深表关注 (Swedish NGO worker detained in China “deported,” Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses deep concern for another national Gui Minhai)
South China Morning Post, January 26, 2016
http://www.nanzao.com/sc/national/1527b8e92923f59/zai-hua-bei-ju-rui-dian-ngo-gong-zuo-zhe-huo-shi-rui-wai-jiao-bu-dui-gui-min-hai-shen-biao-guan-zhu

TV confessions go prime time in China
CNN, January 26, 2016
http://www.wptz.com/national/tv-confessions-go-prime-time-in-china/37638424

Chinese labor group vows to sue over state media report on detained activists
Radio Free Asia, January 25, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/china-labor-01252016142709.html

China’s prosecutors vow to focus on economic crimes
South China Morning Post, January 24, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1904736/chinas-prosecutors-vow-focus-economic-crimes

Access to Information (信息公开)

The hidden cracks in China’s employment figures
South China Morning Post, January 25, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/economy/article/1904879/hidden-cracks-chinas-employment-figures

Government Accountability (政府问责)

China vows to keep up anti-corruption efforts in 2016
The Diplomat, January 26, 2016
http://thediplomat.com/2016/01/china-vows-to-keep-up-anti-corruption-efforts-in-2016/

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

Hacker group targeting Tibetan, Uyghur activists
China Digital Times, January 25, 2016
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2016/01/hacker-group-targeting-tibetan-uyghur-activists/

More than half of China’s population is online—and most use smartphones
The Wall Street Journal, January 26, 2016
http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2016/01/26/more-than-half-of-chinas-population-is-online-and-most-use-smartphones/

Hong Kong (香港)

Concerns grow for Hong Kong's publishing industry amid report Beijing ordered crackdown
Radio Free Asia, January 25, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/china-hongkong-01252016145116.html

Guangdong governor says he believes case of Hong Kong bookseller Lee Po will have “practical and fair judgment”
South China Morning Post, January 25, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1904852/guangdong-governor-says-he-believes-case-hong-kong

Related:
【書店5人失蹤】李波太太回港後現身北角 拒談丈夫情況:不用關心 ([Disappearance of 5 booksellers] Back in Hong Kong, Lee Bo’s wife spotted in North Point, refuses to talk about husband, says “no need for concern”)
Mingpao, January 26, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20160126/s00001/1453807297294

University of Hong Kong students threaten to escalate action if council rejects their call for governance reform
港大罢课学生:若校委会拒诉求 或升级行动
South China Morning Post, January 25, 2016
EN: http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/1904911/university-hong-kong-students-threaten-escalate
CH: http://www.nanzao.com/sc/hk-macau-tw/1527c1e78ee2594/gang-da-ba-ke-xue-sheng-ruo-xiao-wei-hui-ju-su-qiu-huo-sheng-ji-hang-dong

调查指港人开心指数续跌 研究员:因政治争拗 (Survey shows Hong Kongers’ happiness index continues to drop, researcher says political disputes are part of the cause)
South China Morning Post, January 26, 2016
http://www.nanzao.com/sc/hk-macau-tw/1527cf18773445f/diao-cha-zhi-gang-ren-kai-xin-zhi-shu-xu-die-yan-jiu-yuan-yin-zheng-zhi-zheng-ao

張曉明:要向任性耽誤香港經濟發展的現象說「不」 (Zhang Xiaoming, chief of Chinese government’s Liaison Office in HK: Say “No” to all unruly attempts to hinder Hong Kong’s economic development)
Mingpao, January 26, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20160126/s00001/1453807298979

Opinion and Editorial (观点和社论)

【書店5人失蹤】國家安全法或首次應用在禁書案(文:呂秉權) (Bruce Lui on disappearance of 5 booksellers: Their case might be the first application of National security law on banned books)
Mingpao, January 26, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20160126/s00022/1453790643048

Project Exile: Dissident blogger flees china after detentions
GJ Global Journalist, January 26, 2016
http://globaljournalist.org/2016/01/project-exile-dissident-blogger-flees-china-after-detentions/

Monday, January 25, 2016

Access to Justice (司法公正)

China expels Swedish NGO worker Peter Dahlin over allegations he ran “illegal organization”
ABC, January 26, 2016
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-26/china-expels-swedish-ngo-worker-peter-dahlin/7114280

Related:
China to expel Swedish human rights advocate
The New York Times, January 25, 2016
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/26/world/asia/china-to-expel-swedish-human-rights-advocate.html

瑞典外长向中国当局"要人" (Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs asks Chinese authorities to hand over Peter Dahlin)
Deutsche Welle, January 23, 2016
http://www.dw.com/zh/瑞典外长向中国当局要人/a-18999922

United States voices concern over apparent forced confessions in China
South China Morning Post, January 22, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1903830/united-states-voices-concern-over-apparent-forced

Int’l rights of EU citizens “must be protected,” says German ambassador amid China detentions
Hong Kong Free Press, January 22, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/01/22/intl-rights-of-eu-citizens-must-be-protected-says-german-ambassador-amid-china-detentions/

The day Zhao Wei disappeared: how a young law graduate was caught in China's human rights dragnet
The Guardian, January 25, 2016
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/25/zhao-wei-mothers-search-for-daughter-caught-china-human-rights

Related:
Mass crackdown on Chinese lawyers and defenders
中国大规模镇压维权律师和活跃人士
Human Rights in China, January 22, 2016
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

北京拆迁户房屋着火3人死亡 村民对事件存疑忧无公正结果 (3 died in fire in Beijing home to be demolished, villagers suspect cause and are doubtful about just resolution)
Radio Free Asia, January 24, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/yf2-01242016082552.html

Access to Information (信息公开)

Chinese journalist seeking refuge in Thailand disappears
The New York Times, January 25, 2016
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/26/world/asia/china-thailand-li-xin.html

Related:
又一名中国记者在泰国失踪 其妻向外界求援 (Another Chinese reporter disappeared in Thailand, wife seeks help)
Voice of America, January 25, 2016
http://www.voachinese.com/content/chinese-activist-vanish-thailand-20160122/3158927.html

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

China's social media search for stolen children
British Broadcasting Corporation, January 25, 2016
http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-35383319

Activists see bleak future for China's NGOs amid ongoing crackdown
Radio Free Asia, January 22, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/bleak-01222016113105.html

四川三圣乡业主抗议修建垃圾站 与警冲突多人被抓 (Sichuan Sanshengxiang landlords protest construction of waste station, many taken away in clashes with police)
Radio Free Asia, January 24, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/huanjing/yf3-01242016112154.html

Hong Kong (香港)

Missing bookseller Lee Bo says he is “free and safe” in letter, met wife in China
Hong Kong Free Press, January 24, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/01/24/missing-bookseller-lee-bo-says-he-is-free-and-safe-in-letter-met-wife-in-china/

Related:
【書店5人失蹤】朱小丹指個別事件 反問港媒有否向主管部門了解 (Guangdong provincial chief Zhu Xiaodan says HK booksellers’ disappearance an isolated case, asks if HK reporters have consulted managing authorities)
Mingpao, January 25, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20160125/s00001/1453696104682

李波信件全文 (Full text of Lee Bo's letter)
Sing Tao Daily, January 24, 2016
https://www.singtaousa.com/639262/post-李波信件全文/

Missing Hong Kong bookseller's wife says he's in China to help with “investigation”
Vice, January 24, 2016
https://news.vice.com/article/missing-hong-kong-booksellers-wife-says-hes-in-china-to-help-with-investigation

Controversial copyright bill unexpectedly completes second reading, but longer debate awaits
Hong Kong Free Press, January 21, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/01/21/controversial-copyright-bill-unexpectedly-completes-second-reading-but-longer-debate-awaits/

HK political publisher’s staffer detained in mainland last year; grilled to elicit company secrets—report
Hong Kong Free Press, January 22, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/01/22/hk-political-publishers-staffer-detained-in-mainland-last-year-grilled-to-elicit-company-secrets-report/

港大悬挂“香港市第一人民大学”横额警示被赤化 (HKU hangs “Hong Kong Municipal No. 1 People's University” banner to warn about mainlandization)
Radio France Internationale, January 23, 2016
http://cn.rfi.fr/社会/20160123-港大悬挂“香港市第一人民大学”横额警示被赤化

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

Xinjiang officials backed and took part in terror acts but security crackdown to go on: discipline official
South China Morning Post, January 24, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1904773/xinjiang-officials-backed-and-took-part-terror-acts

China’s comprehensive counter-terrorism law
The Diplomat, January 23, 2016
http://thediplomat.com/2016/01/chinas-comprehensive-counter-terrorism-law/

Opinion and Editorial (观点和社论)

In China, one former reporter’s journey from journalism to law
South China Morning Post, January 24, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1904348/china-one-former-reporters-journey-journalism-law

Clear explanation needed on missing Hong Kong booksellers before case causes political damage
South China Morning Post, January 24, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1904403/clear-explanation-needed-missing-hong-kong-booksellers-case

I want you to understand the sense of fear that Chinese people feel every day
The Guardian, January 22, 2016
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jan/22/i-want-you-to-understand-the-sense-of-fear-that-chinese-people-feel-every-day

Related:
Unreleased scene from Hooligan Sparrow visualizes filmmaker's fear—video
The Guardian, January 22, 2016
http://www.theguardian.com/film/video/2016/jan/22/unreleased-scene-from-hooligan-sparrow-visualises-filmmakers-fear-video

Beijing’s war on rights lawyers and activists continues
Wall Street Journal, January 23, 2016
http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2016/01/23/beijings-war-on-rights-lawyers-and-activists-continues/