Government Accountability (政府问责)

广东一教师收学生家长88元红包被诫勉处理 教育局：收取金额虽小，性质相同 (Teacher in Guangdong disciplined by education authority for accepting “red envelope” of 88.88 yuan from parent)
The Beijing News, January 10, 2018
http://www.bjnews.com.cn/news/2018/01/10/471915.html

Chinese general under investigation, joining a line of fallen commanders
官方证实前中央军委委员房峰辉落马
The New York Times, January 9, 2018
EN: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/09/world/asia/china-general-corruption.html
CH: https://cn.nytimes.com/china/20180110/china-general-corruption/

內地374個窮縣 貪走扶貧金逾70億 (374 poverty-stricken counties embezzle more than 7 billion yuan of aid over 2 years)
Mingpao, January 9, 2018
https://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20180109/s00004/1515489603095

Suicide at Chinese iPhone factory reignites concern over working conditions
The Telegraph, January 7, 2018
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/01/07/suicide-chinese-iphone-factory-reignites-concern-working-conditions/

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

国家网信办约谈支付宝 要求“全面排查 专项整顿” (Cyberspace Administration of China talks to Alipay demanding thorough investigation and specific correction after user information leak)
The Beijing News, January 10, 2018
http://www.bjnews.com.cn/news/2018/01/10/471893.html

Apple: Chinese firm to operate China iCloud accounts
British Broadcasting Company, January 10, 2018
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-42631386

Related:
內地iCloud服務 2月底起轉由內地公司營運 (iCloud service inside China to be run by mainland company starting from end of February)
Mingpao, January 10, 2018
https://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20180110/s00002/1515548132401

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

China to fund construction of counter-terrorism base in northern Afghanistan
The Hindu, January 10, 2018
http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/china-to-fund-construction-of-counter-terrorism-base-in-northern-afghanistan/article22410087.ece

IS战场溃败 大批圣战分子威胁回流新疆 (Large number of jihadists threaten to go back to Xinjiang after being defeated fighting for IS)
Radio France Internationale, January 9, 2018
http://bit.ly/2qK3vBu

Hong Kong (香港)

Charges against Occupy leaders unconstitutional, “beyond criminal law”, lawyer argues
South China Morning Post, January 10, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/2127617/charges-against-occupy-leaders-unconstitutional-beyond

Hong Kong justice chief should give up prosecuting power, top lawyer says
South China Morning Post, January 10, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2127533/hong-kong-justice-chief-should-give-prosecuting-power-top

Pro-democracy camp’s petition on joint checkpoint arrangement fails after legislature rule change
Hong Kong Free Press, January 10, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/01/10/pro-democracy-camps-petition-joint-checkpoint-arrangement-fails-legislature-rule-change/

Former lawmaker Edward Yiu slams pro-Beijing politician’s “misleading” claim that he cannot run for office
Hong Kong Free Press, January 10, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/01/10/former-lawmaker-edward-yiu-slams-pro-beijing-politicians-misleading-claim-cannot-run-office/

Hong Kong activist temporarily detained at Taiwan airport en route to labor protests
Hong Kong Free Press, January 10, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/01/10/hong-kong-activist-temporarily-detained-taiwan-airport-enroute-labour-protests/

Commentary (评论)

何其荒謬的「刑不上公安」 (How ridiculous is police being exempt from criminal liability)
Inmediahk, January 10, 2018
https://www.inmediahk.net/node/1054427

Housing plan for part of Hong Kong Golf Club would showcase Carrie Lam’s commitment to the people
South China Morning Post, January 10, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2127616/housing-plan-part-hong-kong-golf-club-would-showcase-carrie

Hong Kong government must scrap the small-house policy
South China Morning Post, January 10, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2127552/hong-kong-government-must-scrap-small-house-policy

China’s fingerprints are everywhere
The Washington Post, January 9, 2018
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/chinas-fingerprints-are-everywhere/2018/01/09/9410f060-f580-11e7-b34a-b85626af34ef_story.html

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Chinese activist Wu Gan appeals subversion sentence
吴淦案上诉状提出「人民有权颠覆政权」
Radio Free Asia, January 8, 2018
EN: https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/wugan-appeal-01082018163747.html
CH: http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/appeal-01082018090257.html

司法部副部长在第十届中国律师论坛上作报告 (Ministry of Justice deputy delivers work report at Chinese Lawyer Forum: “Revision of Lawyers Law must be guided by Xi Jinping Thought”)
Central People’s Government, January 8, 2018
http://www.gov.cn/xinwen/2018-01/08/content_5254469.htm

2017中国律师行业最受关注事件和人物发布 (Ministry of Justice, Legal Daily: Formation of CPC Committee for nation’s legal profession gets top spot in list of 10 most notable events, persons in legal profession of 2017)
Legal Daily, January 8, 2018
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/index_article/content/2018-01/08/content_7442396.htm?node=5955

Access to Information (信息公开)

China says it shut down 128,000 websites in 2017
Voice of America, January 8, 2018
https://www.voanews.com/a/china-says-it-shut-down-128000-websites-in-2017/4199229.html

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

China's women break silence on harassment as #MeToo becomes #WoYeShi
The Guardian, January 9, 2018
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/09/china-women-break-silence-harassment-metoo-woyeshi

Chinese authorities demolish one church, close another, in December
西安一天主教堂遭强拆三百教友请愿
Radio Free Asia, January 8, 2018
EN: http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/churches-01082018181109.html
CH: http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shehui/ql1-01082018102918.html

疑农地收益遭侵吞 东莞麻涌镇村民包围派出所 (Villagers in Guangdong storm police station over land rights dispute)
Radio Free Asia, January 8, 2018
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/gf1-01082018103311.html

Government Accountability (政府问责)

China says 27 of 31 regions met low carbon targets to help tackle climate change
Reuters, January 9, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2127405/china-says-27-31-regions-met-low-carbon-targets-help

「北京切除」後，20萬拾荒者去哪了？ (Where did 200,000 scavengers go after mass eviction in Beijing?)
The Initium, January 8, 2018
https://theinitium.com/article/20180109-mainland-beijing-scanvengers-after-eviction/

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

中国打造全球最大DNA数据库 采集手法引发争议 (Controversy arises as China gathers DNA of its citizens and builds world’s largest DNA data center)
The Wall Street Journal, January 8, 2018
http://cn.wsj.com/gb/20180108/BCH112431.asp

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

Rights situation in Xinjiang has “further deteriorated” in recent months: CECC
Radio Free Asia, January 8, 2018
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/uyghur/rights-01082018162656.html

Related:
Chairs raise alarm about deteriorating human rights situation in Xinjiang
Congressional-Executive Commission on China, January 8, 2018
https://www.cecc.gov/media-center/press-releases/chairs-raise-alarm-about-deteriorating-human-rights-situation-in

Rising tide of jihadists stopped trying to return to China, Chinese advisers say
South China Morning Post, January 8, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/2127352/rising-tide-jihadists-stopped-trying-return-china

Uyghur detentions continue in Xinjiang, despite pledge to end with party congress
Radio Free Asia, January 8, 2018
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/uyghur/detentions-01082018164453.html

Hong Kong (香港)

Defense says Hong Kong democracy activists face “unconstitutional, unnecessary” charges in Umbrella Movement trial
Hong Kong Free Press, January 9, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/01/09/defence-says-hong-kong-democracy-activists-face-unconstitutional-unnecessary-charges-umbrella-movement-trial/

屋宇署證實鄭若驊及丈夫潘樂陶海詩別墅寓所有多處僭建 (Buildings Department confirms multiple illegal structures at justice chief Teresa Cheng and husband’s villas)
Radio Television Hong Kong, January 9, 2018
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1374160-20180109.htm

Related:
No integrity issue, Hong Kong’s leader says, defending justice chief in illegal structure saga
South China Morning Post, January 9, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2127436/no-integrity-issue-hong-kongs-leader-says-defending-justice

Chief Executive Carrie Lam condemns recent attacks on judges after court jails retired cop Frankly Chu
Hong Kong Free Press, January 9, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/01/09/chief-executive-carrie-lam-condemns-recent-attacks-judges-court-jails-retired-cop-frankly-chu/

Related:
Hong Kong police union demands officers be exempt from criminal liability at work
South China Morning Post, January 9, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/2127370/hong-kong-police-union-demands-officers-be-exempt-criminal

Hong Kong activists announce 8 locations for Sunday primaries ahead of legislative by-elections
Hong Kong Free Press, January 9, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/01/09/hong-kong-activists-announce-8-locations-sunday-primaries-ahead-legislative-elections/

Related:
Hong Kong by-election hopeful attacked by two men after being sent razor and threatening letter
South China Morning Post, January 9, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/2127449/hong-kong-election-hopeful-attacked-two-men-after-being

Advice from government bodies to Hong Kong’s universities could amount to meddling, lawmaker says
South China Morning Post, January 9, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/2127368/advice-government-bodies-hong-kongs-universities-could

Death of girl, 5, sparks calls for more help for Hong Kong schools in tackling child abuse cases
South China Morning Post, January 9, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/community/article/2127446/death-girl-5-sparks-calls-more-help-hong-kong-schools

China's legal move into train station hits Hong Kong rule of law, bar chief says
Reuters, January 8, 2018
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-law/chinas-legal-move-into-train-station-hits-hong-kong-rule-of-law-bar-chief-says-idUSKBN1EX1NP

Related:
In Full: New Hong Kong justice minister Teresa Cheng says rule of law “not compromised”
Hong Kong Free Press, January 8, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/01/08/full-speeches-hong-kongs-chief-justice-justice-secretary-start-legal-year/

Commentary (评论)

院校自主 不容中聯辦干預 (University's autonomy shouldn’t be interfered by Liaison Office)
Inmediahk, January 9, 2018
https://www.inmediahk.net/node/1054408

Has Xi fully consolidated his power over the military?
The Diplomat, January 8, 2018
https://thediplomat.com/2018/01/has-xi-fully-consolidated-his-power-over-the-military/

China’s war on poverty could hurt the poor most
Foreign Policy, January 8, 2018
http://foreignpolicy.com/2018/01/08/chinas-war-on-poverty-could-hurt-the-poor-most/

China: France’s Macron should spotlight rights
中国：法国马克龙应强调人权
Human Rights Watch, January 8, 2018
EN: https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/01/08/china-frances-macron-should-spotlight-rights
CH: https://www.hrw.org/zh-hans/news/2018/01/08/313084

Access to Justice (司法公正)

长沙辅警棒杀金毛犬 男子散布辅警住址被拘5天 (Man detained for 5 days for putting home address of dog-killing auxiliary police online)
Changsha Police, January 7, 2018
http://news.sina.com.cn/c/nd/2018-01-07/doc-ifyqincv0565680.shtml

Access to Information (信息公开)

Foreign academics confront Chinese censorship
China Digital Times, January 5, 2018
https://chinadigitaltimes.net/2018/01/foreign-academics-debate-confront-chinese-censorship/

Related:
China’s “long arm”
Inside Higher Ed, January 3, 2018
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2018/01/03/scholars-and-politicians-raise-concerns-about-chinese-governments-influence-over

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Workers don’t need threats, just the chance to negotiate
China Labor Bulletin, January 8, 2018
http://www.clb.org.hk/content/workers-don%E2%80%99t-need-threats-just-chance-negotiate

中国曹顺利人权团队在上海的部分人权捍卫者近日第4次上街举牌要求中共政权立即释放全国政治犯并解除党禁报禁 (Human rights defenders in Shanghai hold placards on street demanding release of political prisoners and allowing political parties and media to operate freely)
Weiquanwang, January 7, 2018
http://wqw2010.blogspot.hk/2018/01/4.html

Zhen Jianghua: The perilous life of a young activist in China
China Change, January 5, 2018
https://chinachange.org/2018/01/05/zhen-jianghua-the-perilous-life-of-a-young-activist-in-china/

众律师就王全璋律师、李昱函律师权益遭侵害事宜上访中华全国律师协会情况通报 (Update on a group of lawyers petition at All China Lawyers Association for Wang Quanzhang and Li Yuhan)
Weiquanwang, January 5, 2018
http://wqw2010.blogspot.hk/2018/01/blog-post_90.html

Government Accountability (政府问责)

China to move millions of people from homes in anti-poverty drive
The Guardian, January 7, 2018
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/07/china-move-millions-people-homes-anti-poverty-drive

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

Garbage-sorting violators in China now risk being punished with a junk credit rating
Quartz, January 8, 2018
https://qz.com/1173975/garbage-sorting-violators-in-china-risk-getting-a-junk-credit-rating/

Beijing bets on facial recognition in a big drive for total surveillance
The Washington Post, January 7, 2018
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/world/wp/2018/01/07/feature/in-china-facial-recognition-is-sharp-end-of-a-drive-for-total-surveillance/

大数据面前无隐私，到底谁才是老大哥 (No privacy in front of big data, so who is the Big Brother?)
People’s Daily, January 7, 2018
http://bit.ly/2qGVf4S

Related:
An Orwellian future is taking shape in China
The Sydney Morning Herald, January 8, 2018
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/an-orwellian-future-is-taking-shape-in-china-20171220-h07vbw.html

百度回应被消保委起诉：没有能力监听电话，也不会申请这权限 (Sued by Consumer Protection Commission, Baidu asserts it has no capacity to tap phones and won’t seek such authorization)
The Paper, January 5, 2018
http://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_1937672

中央网信办、发展改革委、工业和信息化部联合开展公共信息资源开放试点工作 (CAC, NDRC, and MIIT launch joint pilot program to build interactive database for open information resources in Beijing, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guizhou by end of 2018)
Cyberspace Administration of China, January 5, 2018
http://www.cac.gov.cn/2018-01/05/c_1122215495.htm

Hong Kong (香港)

Outgoing HKU chief says Beijing officials meet him “all the time” and wishes higher education “wasn’t so politicised”
South China Morning Post, January 8, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/2127160/outgoing-hku-head-says-beijing-officials-meet-him-all-time

Related:
中大多個學生會聯署 盼段崇智保持風骨、捍衛言論自由 (CUHK student unions join signature campaign urging new university chief to keep integrity and protect freedom of speech)
Mingpao, January 8, 2018
https://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20180108/s00001/1515382837351

“Morale crisis”: Protesters march in support of police and demand Chinese judges after ex-cop jailed for assault
Hong Kong Free Press, January 8, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/01/08/morale-crisis-protesters-march-support-police-demand-chinese-judges-ex-cop-jailed-assault/

Related:
Bar association condemns insults directed at non-Chinese judge in Hong Kong who jailed senior policeman
South China Morning Post, January 8, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/2127157/bar-association-condemns-insults-directed-non-chinese-judge

No candidates for HKU student union leadership as fear of political repercussions cited
South China Morning Post, January 8, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/2127227/no-candidates-hku-student-union-leadership-fear-political

Related:
學生會周年大選接獲投訴 選委會被指無理取消提名資格 (HKU Student Union’s Electoral Committee challenged for barring candidate from general election)
Undergrad, January 7, 2018
https://www.undergrad.hk/15741

Hong Kong justice secretary’s home controversy prompts review of integrity checks
South China Morning Post, January 7, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2127203/hong-kong-justice-secretary-home-controversy-prompts-review

Related:
New Hong Kong Justice Sec. Teresa Cheng should resign over “illegal” structures scandal, says top lawyer Lawrence Lok
Hong Kong Free Press, January 8, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/01/08/new-hong-kong-justice-sec-teresa-cheng-resign-illegal-structures-scandal-says-top-lawyer-lawrence-lok/

Ex-leader of Hong Kong Christian Council slams Beijing for reviving “autocracy”
South China Morning Post, January 7, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2127174/ex-leader-hong-kong-christian-council-slams-beijing-exerting

Commentary (评论)

Too busy to be kind? We Hongkongers have no excuse
South China Morning Post, January 8, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/community/article/2127288/too-busy-be-kind-we-hongkongers-have-no-excuse

Carrie Lam’s pathetic response to co-location fears: ignore the criticism, attack the critics
Hong Kong Free Press, January 7, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/01/07/carrile-lams-pathetic-response-co-location-fears-ignore-criticism-attack-critics/

Months after being barred from Hong Kong, Immigration refuses to provide me with answers
Hong Kong Free Press, January 7, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/01/07/months-barred-hong-kong-immigration-refuses-provide-answers/

人大常委會一言九鼎，鄭若驊應該被DQ！ (According to NPC’s paramount interpretation of the Basic Law, Teresa Cheng should be disqualified!)
Inmediahk, January 7, 2018
https://www.inmediahk.net/node/1054364

錢鋼專文：2017語象報告─「習語」體系確立 (Qian Gang’s 2017 word usage report: Establishment of “Xi Narrative” system)
The Storm Media, January 6, 2018
http://www.storm.mg/article/381189

A Chinese empire reborn
中國，一個復興的帝國
The New York Times, January 5, 2018
EN: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/05/sunday-review/china-military-economic-power.html
CH: https://cn.nytimes.com/opinion/20180108/china-military-economic-power/zh-hant/