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.

Thursday, March 31, 2016

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

探秘武警日照支队“魔鬼周”反恐极限训练 (Revealing People’s Armed Police's “devil's circuit” extreme counterterrorism training drills)
China News, March 29, 2016
http://news.163.com/16/0329/14/BJB6IK05000146BE.html

China launches campaign to promote ethnic unity in violence-torn Xinjiang region
South China Morning Post, March 31, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1932229/china-launches-campaign-promote-ethnic-unity-violence

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Chinese police tear families apart over letter that demanded President's resignation
Global Voices, March 29, 2016
https://globalvoices.org/2016/03/29/chinese-police-tear-families-apart-over-letter-that-demanded-presidents-resignation/

“Kidnapped” brother of dissident Chinese journalist criticizes sibling in “interview,” hails police
Hong Kong Free Press, March 30, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/03/30/kidnapped-brother-of-dissident-chinese-journalist-criticises-sibling-in-interview-hails-police/

Coming to a screen near you soon: China’s “televised confessions”
Hindustan Times, March 27, 2016
http://www.hindustantimes.com/world/coming-to-a-screen-near-you-soon-china-s-televised-confessions/story-ISz6b3sUfxAlA9ICnyD1aK.html

Access to Information (信息公开)

Law scholar calls for Youth League transparency
China Digital Times, March 29, 2016
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2016/03/law-scholar-calls-youth-league-transparency/

China proposes restrictions on foreign websites
The Financial Times, March 29, 2016
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/888e864a-f595-11e5-96db-fc683b5e52db.html

Mainland China’s “first gay movie” in cinemas soon
Whats On Weibo, March 28, 2016
http://www.whatsonweibo.com/chinas-first-gay-movie-cinemas-soon/

China air quality study has good news and bad news
The New York Times, March 31, 2016
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/31/world/asia/china-air-pollution-beijing-shanghai-guangzhou.html

域名注册新规恐将致中国脱离全球互联网 (New rule on domain name registration may cut off China from the world’s Internet)
The New York Times, March 30, 2016
http://cn.nytimes.com/china/20160330/c30chinanet/

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

China on strike
Cable News Network, March 28, 2016
http://edition.cnn.com/2016/03/28/asia/china-strike-worker-protest-trade-union/

The school of hard rocks: how protests by China’s miners shine a light on an industry in decline
South China Morning Post, March 30, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/economy/article/1931641/school-hard-rocks-how-protests-chinas-miners-shine-light-industry

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Official vaccine investigation begins
Xinhua, March 28, 2016
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-03/28/c_135231151.htm

Related:
Chinese lawyers call for official transparency in vaccine scandal
Radio Free Asia, March 29, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/china-vaccine-03292016154903.html

The fall of China’s hedge-fund king
The New York Times, March 29, 2016
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/03/magazine/the-fall-of-chinas-hedge-fund-king.html

Ally of disgraced China security chief gets 12 years in jail for graft
Reuters, March 30, 2016
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-corruption-judicial-idUSKCN0WW05B

Chinese man wrongly jailed for 23 years sues for compensation
Irish Times, March 30, 2016
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/chinese-man-wrongly-jailed-for-23-years-sues-for-compensation-1.2591919

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

Chinese hacker who tried to steal U.S. military data “deserves respect”—state media
The Guardian, March 25, 2016
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/25/chinese-hacker-who-tried-to-steal-us-military-data-deserves-respect-says-state-media

Microsoft made a version of Windows 10 for the Chinese government
Tech in Asia, March 25, 2016
https://www.techinasia.com/microsoft-version-windows-10-chinese-government

This Chinese browser gathers a crazy amount of your data and then stores it unsafely
The Washington Post, March 28, 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/03/28/chinese-browser-gathers-pathological-level-of-personal-data-and-then-stores-unsafely-study-finds/

Hong Kong (香港)

Is it legal? Hong Kong justice department questions status of new pro-independence party
South China Morning Post, March 29, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1931645/it-legal-hong-kong-justice-department-questions-status-new

Related:
《环球时报》讥讽香港民族党“猖狂全球无双” (Global Times satirizes Hong Kong National Party as “globally unparalleled savage”)
Deutsche Welle, March 30, 2016
http://www.dw.com/zh/环球时报讥讽香港民族党猖狂全球无双/a-19151437?maca=chi-rss-chi-ca-1044-rdf

【李波返港】英外交部促完全恢復李波自由 ([Lee Bo back in Hong Kong] British Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls for complete restoration of Lee Bo’s freedom)
Ming Pao, March 30, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20160330/s00001/1459315072862

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

China charges Tibetan education advocate with inciting separatism
The New York Times, March 31, 2016
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/31/world/asia/china-tibet-tashi-wangchuk.html

“Strike hard” hits Uyghur family
Radio Free Asia, March 29, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/uyghur/strike-hard-hits-03292016173833.html

Opinion and Editorial (观点和社论)

【李波事件】李波事件難令人釋疑(文:陳文敏)(Johannes Chan on Lee Bo event: Doubts in the event can hardly be cleared)
Ming Pao, March 30, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20160330/s00022/1459308351995

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Christian lawyer Zhang Kai released in China
The Telegraph, March 24, 2016
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/12202826/Christian-lawyer-Zhang-Kai-released-in-China.html

Chinese dissident Chang Ping says brothers “abducted” over letter criticizing president
The Guardian, March 28, 2016
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/28/chinese-dissident-chang-ping-says-brothers-abducted-over-letter-criticising-president

Related:
Chang Ping: My statement about the open letter to Xi Jinping demanding his resignation
China Change, March 27, 2016
http://chinachange.org/2016/03/27/chang-ping-my-statement-about-the-open-letter-to-xi-jinping-demanding-his-resignation/

Official from northern China jailed for assaulting lawyer in court after disagreeing with his views
South China Morning Post, March 28, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/1931241/lawmaker-northern-china-jailed-assaulting-lawyer-court

Access to Information (信息公开)

Mainland newspaper editor posts resignation, saying he “could not bear the party’s surname”
Hong Kong Free Press, March 29, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/03/29/mainland-newspaper-editor-posts-resignation-saying-he-could-not-bear-the-partys-surname/

Google search returned to China this weekend—but not for long
Quartz, March 28, 2016
http://qz.com/648747/google-search-returned-to-china-this-weekend-but-not-for-long/

Big numbers behind Chinese internet leave some unconvinced
The Financial Times, March 28, 2016
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/66ae03d0-f175-11e5-9f20-c3a047354386.html

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Influential U.S.-based Communist Party critic says Beijing officials “abducted” his family
South China Morning Post, March 26, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1930965/influential-us-based-communist-party-critic-says

Growing numbers of Christians in China under scrutiny
British Broadcasting Corporation, March 25, 2016
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-35898182

Related:
Why many Christians in China have turned to underground churches
British Broadcasting Corporation, March 26, 2016
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-35898182

Chinese “woman of courage” faces eviction, travel ban ahead of award
北京维权人士倪玉兰获国际妇女勇气奖 当局阻领奖又逼迁
Radio Free Asia, March 28, 2016
EN: http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/china-niyulan-03282016132245.html
CH: http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/ql1-03282016100647.html

十余律师公开去信中国国务院 吁保护疫苗案公民知情权与救济权 (A dozen of lawyers write open letter to China’s State Council concerning vaccine scandal, urging for protection of people’s right to know and right of relief)
Radio Free Asia, March 28, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/huanjing/yf1-03282016103548.html

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Vaccine scandal shows public distrust, system’s flaws
China Digital Times, March 28, 2016
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2016/03/vaccine-scandal-reveals-systems-flaws/

Chinese government mouthpiece Global Times criticizes authorities over vaccine scandal
South China Morning Post, March 25, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1930576/chinese-government-mouthpiece-global-times-criticises

疫苗事件:世卫组织敦促中国恢复公众信心 (Vaccine scandal: The World Health Organization urges China to rebuild the public’s confidence)
British Broadcasting Corporation, March 28, 2016
http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/china/2016/03/160328_china_vaccine_regulation

Bedridden for years after torture in jail, Tibetan man dies at 85
Radio Free Asia, March 25, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/bedridden-03252016142239.html

China steps-up anti-graft drive in military
The Hindu, March 28, 2016
http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/china-stepsup-antigraft-drive-in-military/article8406239.ece

China warns officials: No unrest, or lose your job
Wall Street Journal, March 25, 2016
http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2016/03/25/china-warns-officials-no-unrest-or-lose-your-job/

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

Father of China's Great Firewall to lead new cybersecurity association
South China Morning Post, March 26, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1930959/father-chinas-great-firewall-lead-new-cybersecurity

Hong Kong (香港)

Three strikes: A tipping point for Hong Kong?
The Diplomat, March 24, 2016
http://thediplomat.com/2016/03/three-strikes-a-tipping-point-for-hong-kong/

Bookseller Lee Bo “back in mainland;” hails China’s development, says his rights were protected
Hong Kong Free Press, March 25, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/03/25/bookseller-lee-bo-back-in-mainland-hails-chinas-development-says-his-rights-were-protected/

Related:

【李波事件】李波變成中共對港政策宣傳大使 ([Lee Bo event] Lee bo has become the promotional ambassador of CPC’s policies to Hong Kong)
Ming Pao, March 29, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20160329/s00022/1459223029346

李波事件對一國兩制有陰影 譚允芝:回歸後最令人憂慮的事件 (Lee Bo event casts a shadow on One Country Two Systems, Hong Kong Bar Association Chairman Winnie Tam calls it the most worrisome event since the handover)
InMedia HK, March 27, 2016
http://www.inmediahk.net/node/1041472

Key dates in the Hong Kong booksellers’ saga
South China Morning Post, March 25, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1930960/key-dates-hong-kong-booksellers-saga

Who are the five Hong Kong booksellers?
South China Morning Post, March 25, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1930957/who-are-five-hong-kong-booksellers

运营两年屡遭打压 “六四纪念馆”被迫关闭 (Operated for two years, June Fourth Museum to close down under pressure)
Radio Free Asia, March 27, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/gangtai/xl1-03272016110821.html

香港民族黨宣布建黨 冀建獨立自由「香港共和國」 (Hong Kong National Party announces its establishment to promote an independent and free “Hong Kong Republic”)
Ming Pao, March 28, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20160328/s00001/1459149341056

Related:
【香港民族黨】否認港獨違基本法 召集人稱香港開埠時中華人民共和國細胞都未形成 (Hong Kong National Party denies that Hong Kong’s independence would breach the Basic Law, convener claims that the People’s Republic of China was inexistent when the port of Hong Kong opened)
Ming Pao, March 28, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20160328/s00001/1459154989608

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

China detains 41 Uyghurs who skipped a funeral of a local Communist functionary
Radio Free Asia, March 24, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/uyghur/china-detains-03242016163359.html

Opinion and Editorial (观点和社论)

HKFP Interview: Leta Hong Fincher on “leftover women” and the future of feminism in China
Hong Kong Free Press, March 28, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/03/28/hkfp-interview-leta-hong-fincher-on-leftover-women-and-the-future-of-feminism-in-china/

HKFP Interview: Tiananmen book author Louisa Lim on the dangers of forgetting history
Hong Kong Free Press, March 27, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/03/27/hkfp-interview-tiananmen-book-author-louisa-lim-on-the-dangers-of-forgetting-history/

Friday, March 25, 2016

Access to Justice (司法公正)

China “detained 20 over Xi resignation letter”
British Broadcasting Corporation, March 25, 2016
http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-china-blog-35897905

China cracks down on Xi Jinping critics after call for resignation
The Financial Times, March 25, 2016
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/877a88fe-f260-11e5-aff5-19b4e253664a.html#axzz43wZkCZDs

Related:
China: Prominent blogger’s family detained over letter lambasting President Xi
Amnesty International, March 25, 2016
http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/press-releases/china-prominent-blogger-s-family-detained-over-letter-lambasting-president-xi

Mingjing: The people behind the open letter attack on Xi Jinping
公开信关联图: 张春贤蒋建国刘乐飞王波明
Chinascope (English), March 25, 2016
Mingjing (Chinese), March 20, 2016
EN: http://chinascope.org/main/content/view/7788/106/
CH: http://www.mingjingnews.com/MIB/Blog/blog_contents.aspx?ID=0000803700000603

乌市法院推行裁判文书繁简分流改革, 裁判文书“瘦身”当事人能看懂 (Urumqi courts implement “simplification reforms” for court decisions, “downsizing” court decisions will enable parties to understand them)
Legal Daily, March 25, 2016
http://epaper.legaldaily.com.cn/fzrb/content/20160324/Articel03006GN.htm

三年间长春基层法院审结强制医疗案22件 (Changchun's lowest-level courts tried 22 compulsory medical treatment cases in 3 years)
China Jilin Online, March 24, 2016
http://www.chinajilin.com.cn/jlnews/content/2016-03/24/content_3889992.htm

Access to Information (信息公开)

顾雏军与广东证监局法庭激辩:科龙案证据存疑 (Gu Chujun vs Guangdong Securities Regulatory Bureau [Open Government Information case] sparks fierce court debate: government claims requested evidence does not exist)
Sina Finance & Economics, March 24, 2016
http://finance.sina.com.cn/chanjing/gsnews/2016-03-24/doc-ifxqswxk9598016.shtml

Netflix's great China challenge: The company’s global expansion has hit a wall in China
The Diplomat, March 25, 2016
http://thediplomat.com/2016/03/netflix-china-and-house-of-cards/

中国保监会2015年政府信息公开工作年报 (China Insurance Regulatory Commission releases 2015 Open Government Information work report)
Caijing, March 23, 2016
http://finance.dzwww.com/baoxian/bxzx/201603/t20160323_14034995.html

Government Accountability (政府问责)

文化产业如何成支柱——解读“十三五”规划纲要文化产业发展亮点 (Understanding the 13th Five-Year Plan: How the cultural industry is becoming a pillar)
Guangming Network, March 24, 2016
http://bit.ly/1PvCtwZ

健全落实社会治安综合治理领导责任制规定 (Regulations on leadership responsibility system for sound implementation of comprehensive social security management)
Legal Daily, March 25, 2016
http://epaper.legaldaily.com.cn/fzrb/content/20160324/Articel02002GN.htm