Commentary (评论)

The origins of China’s new Law on Foreign NGOs
China File, January 31, 2017
http://www.chinafile.com/viewpoint/origins-of-chinas-new-law-foreign-ngos

Baby girls – and women – in China should be a thing of wonder, not pity
South China Morning Post, January 31, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2066741/baby-girls-and-women-china-should-be-thing-wonder-not-pity

Hong Kong’s censored New Year’s Fair – another own-goal by the government
Hong Kong Free Press, February 1, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/02/01/hong-kongs-censored-new-years-fair-is-another-own-goal-by-the-government/

Access to Information (信息公开)

Chinese liberal think tank’s days were numbered, director says
South China Morning Post, January 27, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2065831/chinese-liberal-think-tanks-days-were-numbered-director

China’s premier just extolled the virtues of openness on a news site blocked by China
Quartz, January 26, 2017
https://qz.com/895229/chinese-premier-li-keqiang-just-extolled-the-virtues-of-openness-on-a-news-site-blocked-by-china/

“文革二日”戛然而止? 中共首席大法官周强“对司法独立亮剑”讲话被收回 (Is "Cultural Revolution 2.0" screeching to a halt? Portions of Chief Justice Zhou Qiang’s speech in which he declared war against “Western judicial independence" removed)
Bowen Press, January 18, 2017
http://bowenpress.com/news/bowen_158987.html

Related:
A Chief Justice Like Zhou Qiang Must Leave: An Open Letter Urging Zhou Qiang to Resign
这样子的周院长，必须走人——敦请周强辞职书（图）
Human Rights in China, January 19, 2017
EN: http://www.hrichina.org/en/citizens-square/chief-justice-zhou-qiang-must-leave-open-letter-urging-zhou-qiang-resign
CH: http://www.hrichina.org/chs/gong-min-yan-chang/zhe-yang-zi-de-zhou-yuan-chang-bi-xu-zou-ren-dun-qing-zhou-qiang-ci-zhi-shu-tu

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Chinese activists send cards to hundreds of prisoners of conscience
Radio Free Asia, January 26, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/prisoners-cards-01262017135703.html

常州毒地诉讼案两环保组织败诉 (Two environmental groups lose over Changzhou “toxic land” litigation)
Radio Free Asia, January 27, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/huanjing/ml1-01262017103056.html

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

China tries to ease fears over impact of VPN crackdown
South China Morning Post, January 25, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2065344/china-tries-ease-fears-over-impact-vpn-crackdown

Hong Kong (香港)

Lunar New Year fair poster leads to safety concerns about pro-independence activities
South China Morning Post, January 26, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/2065723/lunar-new-year-fair-poster-raises-safety-concerns-about-pro

聯合國組織關注傘運警濫權 港府人權報告hea答拒改善 (UN committee expresses concern about police’s abuse of power during Umbrella Movement, unsatisfactory response and lack of improvement in Hong Kong gov’t’s response)
Apple Daily, January 26, 2017
http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/realtime/news/20170126/56223881

港入境处长：暂无证据向李波提控 (HK Director of Immigration: No evidence to prosecute Lee Bo)
Radio Free Asia, January 26, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/gangtai/wsw-01262017103242.html

彭定康憂英出賣尊嚴換對華生意　指背棄對港承諾　辜負一代香港人 (Patten worries that UK is "selling honor" for business with China, says it breaks promise to Hong Kong, disappoints a generation of Hong Kong people)
Mingpao, January 26, 2017
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20170126/s00001/1485408547637

Commentary (评论)

Implementing the overseas NGO law—26 NGOs register in Beijing and Guangdong
NGOs in China Blog, January 25, 2017
http://ngochina.blogspot.hk/2017/01/implementing-overseas-ngo-law-26-ngos.html

＂雾霾”、“宪政”，中国当局的“不可描述”现象 (“Smog”, “constitutionalism”, the Chinese authorities' “indescribable” phenomenon)
Voice of America, January 26, 2017
http://www.voachinese.com/a/china-smog-20170126/3692964.html

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Torture accusations as EU ambassador raises case of Chinese lawyer Xie Yang
Hong Kong Free Press, January 25, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/01/25/torture-accusations-eu-ambassador-raises-case-chinese-lawyer-xie-yang/

Related:
Two held in Northeastern China after online campaign for tortured lawyer
Radio Free Asia, January 25, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/campaign-01252017123116.html

国际关注危难律师日 29名各国律界人士谴责中国迫害律师 (29 legal professionals worldwide criticize China on “Day of Endangered Lawyer” for persecuting lawyers)
Radio Free Asia, January 25, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/xl1-01252017102850.html

中国人权律师团2016十大人权案件出炉 709案列首位 (Chinese human rights lawyers’ group publishes list of 10 biggest human rights cases of 2016, “709 Crackdown” case ranks number 1)
Radio Free Asia, January 25, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/xl2-01252017102920.html

Related:
Mass Crackdown on Chinese Lawyers, Defenders and International Reactions: A Brief Chronology
Human Rights in China, January 23, 2017
http://www.hrichina.org/en/mass-crackdown-chinese-lawyers-defenders-and-international-reactions-brief-chronology

Access to Information (信息公开)

自由派北京天则所批关闭其网站违法 (The liberal Unirule Institute of Economics in Beijing criticizes “illegal” closing down of their website)
Voice of America, January 26, 2017
http://www.voachinese.com/a/news-china-liberals-unirule-website-shutdown-20170125/3691394.html

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

China to crack down further on “cult” activities
Reuters, January 25, 2017
http://www.reuters.com/article/uk-china-religion-crime-idUSKBN15917O

Related:
“两高”发布新惩治邪教犯罪司法解释 七种邪教犯罪行为将从重处罚 (The SPC and SPP jointly issue new legal interpretation on punishment of “cult” crimes, severe punishment will be imposed on 7 types of “cult” crime)
Legal Daily, January 25, 2017
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/index_article/content/2017-01/25/content_6997114.htm

When China’s feminists came to Washington
Foreign Policy, January 25, 2017
http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/01/25/when-chinas-feminists-came-to-washington-womens-march-feminist-five-activism/

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Global corruption worsens under populist leaders: watchdog
South China Morning Post, January 25, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2065334/global-corruption-worsens-under-populist-leaders

Related:
观察组织：中国清廉排名有上升仍较低 (Anti-corruption watchdog: China’s ranking for integrity increases but remains low)
Voice of America, January 26, 2017
http://www.voachinese.com/a/news-china-corruption-20170125/3691780.html

China corruption prosecutions drop for first time in five years
去年中国公诉腐败官员5年来首次减少
Financial Times, January 26, 2017
EN: https://www.ft.com/content/41a961d2-e2bb-11e6-9645-c9357a75844a
CH: http://www.ftchinese.com/story/001071175

Tibetan doctor linked to self-immolation is freed after beatings, torture
Radio Free Asia, January 25, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/doctor-01252017153010.html

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

The who, what and why in China’s latest VPN crackdown
South China Morning Post, January 26, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2065432/who-what-and-why-chinas-latest-vpn-crackdown

Analysts: China's new Internet controls may hurt China
Voice of America, January 25, 2017
http://www.voanews.com/a/china-internet-controls/3691276.html

Hong Kong (香港)

Lawyers group criticizes “unwise” gov’t ban on political groups selling merchandise at New Year fair
Hong Kong Free Press, January 25, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/01/25/lawyers-group-criticises-unwise-govt-ban-on-political-groups-selling-merchandise-at-new-year-fair/

Former Hong Kong governor accuses UK of “selling its honor” over protests
The Guardian, January 26, 2017
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/26/britain-hong-kong-democracy-activists-chris-patten

Chinese military newspaper hurls insults at Hong Kong pop star
Radio Free Asia, January 25, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/popstar-01252017134319.html

Commentary (评论)

Autonomy in Hong Kong is at a 20-year low
The Washington Post, January 25, 2017
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/global-opinions/wp/2017/01/25/autonomy-in-hong-kong-is-at-a-20-year-low/

Implementing the overseas NGO law—Six NGOs manage to register in Shanghai
NGOs in China Blog, January 24, 2017
http://ngochina.blogspot.hk/2017/01/implementing-overseas-ngo-law-six-ngos.html

Why China will be able to sell itself as the last liberal great power
The Washington Post, January 24, 2017
https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2017/01/24/why-china-will-be-able-to-sell-itself-as-the-last-liberal-great-power/

Access to Justice (司法公正)

China abandoning rule of law, human rights lawyers say
The Guardian, January 24, 2017
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/24/china-abandoning-rule-of-law-human-rights-lawyers-say

李春富被關押後健康欠佳　歐盟駐華大使表示十分關切 (E.U. Ambassador to China expresses concern for Li Chunfu’s health after detention)
Radio Television Hong Kong, January 24, 2017
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1309853-20170125.htm

Related:
709 Lawyer Released on Bail in Psychological Distress
“709”被捕律师李春富取保候审，身心状况异常
Human Rights in China, January 13, 2017
EN: http://www.hrichina.org/en/press-work/hric-bulletin/709-lawyer-released-bail-psychological-distress
CH: http://www.hrichina.org/chs/xin-wen-gong-zuo/zhong-guo-ren-quan-jian-xun/709bei-bu-lu-shi-li-chun-fu-qu-bao-hou-shen-shen-xin

709大抓捕：律师李和平王全璋遭酷刑曝光　电击曾致昏厥 (709 Crackdown: Torture of lawyers Li Heping and Wang Quanzhang comes to light, subjected to electric shocks until they passed out)
Radio Free Asia, January 24, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/xl2-01242017103042.html

Related:
The anti-torture work of lawyer Li Heping that irked the Chinese authorities
China Change, January 25, 2017
https://chinachange.org/2017/01/25/the-anti-torture-work-of-lawyer-li-heping-that-irked-the-chinese-authorities/

Mass Crackdown on Chinese Lawyers, Defenders and International Reactions: A Brief Chronology
Human Rights in China, January 23, 2017
http://www.hrichina.org/en/mass-crackdown-chinese-lawyers-defenders-and-international-reactions-brief-chronology

Access to Information (信息公开)

China's rebel villagers sent to jail with no option to appeal
Radio Free Asia, January 24, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/chinas-rebel-villagers-sent-to-jail-with-no-option-to-appeal-01242017114355.html

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Citizen Lab investigates Alipay, social credit
China Digital Times, January 24, 2017
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2017/01/citizen-lab-investigates-security-flaws-regulatory-history-alipay/

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Tibetans ordered home by China are questioned by police, lose their passports
Radio Free Asia, January 23, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/ordered-01232017165731.html

中国多名律师起诉政府治霾不力 法院拒不受理 (Court rejects case brought by Chinese lawyers against gov’t for incompetence in smog control)
Radio Free Asia, January 24, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/huanjing/m0124-zl-01242017145753.html

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

Forget Xi’s “defense” of globalization. China just fortified the Great Firewall.
The Washington Post, January 23, 2017
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/01/23/forget-xis-defense-of-globalization-china-just-fortified-the-great-firewall/

China’s IT Ministry says VPN crackdown will not affect normal operations of foreign companies
Hong Kong Free Press, January 25, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/01/25/chinas-it-ministry-says-vpn-crackdown-will-not-affect-normal-operations-of-foreign-companies/

China's online population growing fast
Deutsche Welle, January 23, 2017
http://www.dw.com/en/chinas-online-population-growing-fast/a-37235022

Hong Kong (香港)

Four Hong Kong lawmakers facing disqualification win more time to prepare defense
South China Morning Post, January 23, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/2064675/four-hong-kong-lawmakers-facing-disqualification-win-more

青政及民族黨年宵攤位被取消　浸大學生會寄賣產品　批政府壓制本土港獨主張 (Youngspiration and Hong Kong National Party Lunar New Year Fair stalls cancelled, Student union of Baptist University consigns products of Youngspiration and Hong Kong National Party for sale, criticizes gov’t for suppressing idea of Hong Kong independence)
Mingpao, January 25, 2017
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20170125/s00001/1485312897192

Netflix購黃之鋒紀錄片版權　擬全球190國家播放 (Netflix purchases documentary on Joshua Wong, plans to stream in 190 countries worldwide)
Mingpao, January 25, 2017
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20170124/s00001/1485254672570

“反港独”　《中国国防报》赞同抵制香港歌手张敬轩 (Chinese National Defense News, “anti-HK independence” news outlet, agrees with boycott against Hong Kong singer Hins Cheung)
British Broadcasting Corporation, January 25, 2017
http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/chinese-news-38740959

Commentary (评论)

Without freedom for rights lawyers, how can China lay claim to a just legal system?
South China Morning Post, January 23, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2064626/without-freedom-rights-lawyers-how-can-china-lay-claim-just

China must respect lawyers’ human rights
The Guardian, January 23, 2017
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/23/china-must-respect-lawyers-human-rights

The continued importance of the U.S.-China cyber dialogue
Council on Foreign Relations, January 23, 2017
http://blogs.cfr.org/cyber/2017/01/23/the-continued-importance-of-the-u-s-china-cyber-dialogue/