Access to Information (信息公开)

Bureau of the week: Dicking around
China Digital Times, January 28, 2016
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2016/01/bureau-of-the-week-dicking-around/

Grossly deceptive plans: China’s obsession with GDP targets threatens its economy
The Economist, January 30, 2016
http://www.economist.com/news/china/21689628-chinas-obsession-gdp-targets-threatens-its-economy-grossly-deceptive-plans

A Chinese company buys Corbis. What happens to Tiananmen Square photos?
Christian Science Monitor, January 28, 2016
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Global-News/2016/0128/A-Chinese-company-buys-Corbis.-What-happens-to-Tiananmen-Square-photos

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

中国第一家妇女法律援助NGO遭强迫解散？(China’s first women’s legal aid NGO forced to dissolve?)
NGOCN原创 GiveNGOA5, January 29, 2016
http://mp.weixin.qq.com/s?__biz=MzAwMDc5MDUxNA==&mid=402192580&idx=2&sn=10002e171f1fa840d55cc68e7f5d34aa&scene=5&srcid=0129hINs96Ea1p4ildVgTuRt#rd

Tibetan, Muslim students join in protest for equal education
Radio Free Asia, January 28, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/join-01282016171530.html

Railroad retirees protest in Harbin over pension payments
Caixin, January 28, 2016
http://english.caixin.com/2016-01-28/100904838.html

藏族僧人在伦敦开启世界之旅 抗议中国压迫 (Tibetan monk commences world tour in London, protesting China’s repression)
Vocie of America, January 29, 2016
http://www.voachinese.com/content/tibetan-monk-world-tour-20160128/3167856.html

Government Accountability (政府问责)

EU Concerns about the Human Rights situation in China (29/01/2016)
Delegation of European Union to China, January 29, 2016
http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/china/press_corner/all_news/news/2016/20160129_en.htm

China steps up “fox hunt” campaign
The Financial Times, January 28, 2016
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/f6a1c75c-c573-11e5-808f-8231cd71622e.html

中国清廉指数微升 权力斗争仍广泛 (China’s Corruption Perceptions Index slightly rises, power struggle still prevails)
Radio Free Asia, January 28, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/zhengzhi/xl2-01282016093729.html

Hong Kong (香港)

Swedish police join Thai search for missing Hong Kong bookseller
The Guardian, January 29, 2016
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/29/swedish-police-join-thai-search-for-missing-hong-kong-bookseller

Hong Kong's establishment strikes back at protesting students
Radio Free Asia, January 28, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/strikes-01282016110933.html

Related:
【回應李國章】梁家傑：李言論無事實基礎　與梁麗幗僅FB朋友 (Alan Leong in response to Arthur Li: Li’s statements not based on facts, he himself is only Facebook friend with Yvonne Leung, committee member for HKU strike)
Mingpao, January 29, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20160129/s00001/1454034204010

環時社評：港大嚴重政治化致國際排名跌損學生就業
Mingpao, January 29, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20160129/s00001/1454033809064

《十年：自焚者》導演周冠威：電影講中社會難以言喻的荒謬引共鳴 (Director of film “Ten Years|Self-immolator” Chow Kwun Wai: The nondescribable ridiculousness evoked in the film inspires resonance)
Mingpao, January 29, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20160129/s00001/1454037916208

Related:
回應《環時》狠批《十年》　總導演周冠威：不恐懼　更無懼 (General director of Hong Kong film “Ten Years” Chow Kwun Wai responds to Global Times’s acute criticisms: Not afraid, even more fearless)
HK01, January 22, 2016
http://www.hk01.com/新聞/3759/回應-環時-狠批-十年-總導演周冠威-不恐懼-更無懼

Imagining Hong Kong’s future, under China’s tightening grasp
The New York Times, January 29, 2016
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/30/world/asia/hong-kong-ten-years.html

Dark vision of Hong Kong’s future proves surprise box office hit
Hong Kong Economic Journal, January 22, 2016
http://www.ejinsight.com/20160122-dark-vision-hong-kong-s-future-proves-surprise-box-office-hit/

Opinion and Editorial (观点和社论)

China’s first gay marriage case: Pyrrhic victory for its lawyer?
China Law and Policy, January 20, 2016
http://chinalawandpolicy.com/2016/01/20/chinas-first-gay-marriage-case-pyrrhic-victory-for-its-lawyer/

Six months on, an assessment of the July 9 arrest of lawyers in China
China Change, January 28, 2016
http://chinachange.org/2016/01/28/six-months-on-an-assessment-of-the-july-9-arrest-of-lawyers-in-china/

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 27, 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

A confession to make: What the current vogue for televised confessions and apologies says about Xi Jinping’s China
The Economist, January 30, 2016
http://www.economist.com/news/china/21689620-what-current-vogue-televised-confessions-and-apologies-says-about-xi-jinpings-china

The trouble with Hong Kong’s Chief Executives
ChinaFile, January 28, 2016
http://www.chinafile.com/reporting-opinion/viewpoint/trouble-hong-kongs-chief-executives

孔杰荣：绑架和电视认罪等做法显示中国执意蔑视法治 (Jerome Cohen: Acts of kidnapping and televised confessions show that China insists on scorning rule of law)
Voice of America, January 29, 2016
http://www.voachinese.com/content/cohen-abduction-20160128/3167841.html

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Couple’s lawsuit is first test for same-sex marriage in China
The New York Times, January 28, 2016
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/28/world/asia/couples-lawsuit-is-first-test-for-same-sex-marriage-in-china.html

Swedish NGO worker expresses concern for colleagues in first interview since repatriation
Hong Kong Free Press, January 27, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/01/27/swedish-ngo-worker-expresses-concern-for-colleagues-in-first-interview-since-repatriation/

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 27, 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

Access to Information (信息公开)

中国公司购入六四照片版权 传播限制已开始 (Chinese company buys copyrights to June Fourth photos, dissemination restrictions already begun)
Voice of America, January 28, 2016
http://www.voachinese.com/content/voa-news-dc-visual-china-buy-corbisimages-20160127/3165090.html

China’s economic leaders struggle to explain thinking to world
The Financial Times, January 27, 2016
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/71ad991a-c4a9-11e5-808f-8231cd71622e.html#axzz3yO0cWcuZ

State newspaper editorials do not represent official stance on bookseller case—Security Sec.
Hong Kong Free Press, January 27, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/01/27/sec-for-security-state-newspaper-editorials-do-not-represent-official-stance-on-bookseller-case/

China shutters Uyghur websites for “harming ethnic unity”
Radio Free Asia, January 27, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/china-uyghur-01272016122318.html

Missing Chinese editor's wife detained
Voice of America, January 27, 2016
http://www.voanews.com/content/missing-chinese-editor-wife-detained/3165572.html

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

“Over a thousand” Tibetans gather in Kardze to pray for Dalai Lama's health
Radio Free Asia, January 27, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/health-01272016133213.html

State-approved Tibetan language classes held unhindered in Tawu
Radio Free Asia, January 27, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/unhindered-01272016163421.html

人权观察指俄中惧怕挑战打压公民社会 (Human Rights Watch: Fearing challenges to authority, Russia and China cracking down on civil society)
British Broadcasting Corporation, January 27, 2016
http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/world/2016/01/160127_human_rights_russa_china

Related:
Russia, China cracking down as leaders fear grip may wane - Human Rights Watch
Reuters, January 27, 2016
http://uk.reuters.com/article/global-rights-idUKKCN0V50XS

Government Accountability (政府问责)

人权观察组织：中国人权状况持续恶化 (Human Rights Watch: State of human rights in China continues to worsen)
Voice of America, January 27, 2016
http://www.voachinese.com/content/voa-news-human-rights-watch-says-china-reverses-downward-rights-spiral-20160127/3164779.html

Related:
World Report 2016: “Politics of Fear” Threatens Rights
Human Rights Watch, January 27, 2016
https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/01/27/world-report-2016-politics-fear-threatens-rights

Senior CPC official demands Party loyalty
Xinhua, January 27, 2016
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-01/27/c_135050732.htm

Ex-Changjiang chairman falls to death amid graft probe
Caixin, January 27, 2016
http://english.caixin.com/2016-01-27/100904485.html

China admits nuclear emergency response “inadequate” as safety concerns halt construction of two Guangdong reactors
South China Morning Post, January 27, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1906287/china-admits-nuclear-emergency-response-inadequate

Studies point to inequalities that could strain Chinese society
The New York Times, January 28, 2016
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/28/world/asia/china-wealth-social-gap.html

Hong Kong (香港)

排名四連跌　港廉潔全球18 (Hong Kong ranks 18 in Corruption Perceptions Index, declining for fourth consecutive year since 2012)
Apple Daily, January 28, 2016
http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/news/art/20160128/19469597

Related:
Corruption Perceptions Index 2015
Transparency International, January 2016
https://www.transparency.org/cpi2015

全球自由報告：台灣89分亞太排第二　香港63分部分自由　大陸16分不自由 (World Freedom Report: Taiwan “free” with a score of 89 and ranking 2nd in Asia Pacific, Hong Kong “partially free” at 63, mainland China “not free” at 16)
Mingpao, January 28, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20160128/s00001/1453943451396

Related:
Freedom in the World 2016: Anxious Dictators, Wavering Democracies: Global Freedom under Pressure
Freedom House, January 28, 2016
https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/freedom-world-2016

人權觀察報告：京侵香港政治參與權及表達自由 (Human Rights Watch report: Beijing encroaches Hong Kong's right to political participation and freedom of expression)
Mingpao, January 28, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20160128/s00001/1453940106376

“Mob rule”: HKU vice-chancellor condemns students for surrounding governing Council meeting venue
Hong Kong Free Press, January 27, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/01/27/mob-rule-hku-vice-chancellor-condemns-students-for-besieging-governing-council-meeting/

Swedish police in Thailand to investigate bookseller Gui Minhai disappearance—report
Hong Kong Free Press, January 28, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/01/28/swedish-police-in-thailand-to-investigate-bookseller-gui-minhai-disappearance-report/

Hong Kong: Beijing opens a new chapter
The Financial Times, January 27, 2016
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/b2160888-c419-11e5-808f-8231cd71622e.html

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

Chinese VPNs Using Outdated Encryption Technology
The Nanfang, Juanuary 27, 2015
https://thenanfang.com/vpn-security-may-be-compromised-suggest-google-expert/

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

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