Government Accountability (政府问责)

New rules sought to protect pre-school children
Shanghai Daily, January 29, 2018
http://english.sina.com/china/s/2018-01-29/detail-ifyqyesy3692982.shtml

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

中国称破获涉台间谍案 (China claims to have busted Taiwan espionage scheme in Jiangsu)
Voice of America, January 28, 2018
https://www.voachinese.com/a/China-Jiangsu-Taiwan-Spies-20180128-/4228474.html

Hong Kong (香港)

Hong Kong gov’t allows pro-democracy candidate Edward Yiu after rumors of ban
Hong Kong Free Press, January 29, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/01/29/breaking-hong-kong-govt-allows-pro-democracy-candidate-edward-yiu-enter-election-race-reports/

港府與中國鐵路簽署備忘錄 特首：為高鐵開通奠定基礎 (SAR government inks memo with China Railway as leader Carrie Lam calls it laying the foundation for high speed rail)
Radio Television Hong Kong, January 29, 2018
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1377885-20180129.htm

张晓明:港青应关心祖国 对国家有情感才能做大事 (Zhang Xiaoming, head of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, urges Hong Kong youngsters to care about motherland, claiming they can only “achieve something great” if they have feelings for the country)
People’s Daily, January 29, 2018
http://news.haiwainet.cn/n/2018/0129/c3541093-31248436.html

Hong Kong bars democracy advocate from running for legislature
香港民主派候选人周庭被禁止参加立法会补选
The New York Times, January 27, 2018
EN: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/27/world/asia/hong-kong-democracy-election.html
CH: https://cn.nytimes.com/china/20180129/hong-kong-democracy-election/

Related:
In Pictures: 2,000 Hongkongers protest ban on pro-democracy election hopeful Agnes Chow
Hong Kong Free Press, January 28, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/01/28/pictures-2000-hongkongers-protest-disqualification-demosistos-agnes-chow/

Commentary (评论)

我們不得不參與政治，只為那是我們活得像個人的尊嚴所在 (We have no choice but to get involved in politics, because that’s what makes us human and gives us dignity)
Inmediahk, January 29, 2018
https://www.inmediahk.net/node/1054859

除了粗口還可以講甚麼 (What else can we say other than foul language)
Apple Daily, January 29, 2018
https://hk.news.appledaily.com/local/daily/article/20180129/20288803

Related:
Foul language in Hong Kong: it’s not what you say but how you say it
South China Morning Post, January 29, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2131022/foul-language-hong-kong-its-not-what-you-say-how-you-say-it

Agnes Chow’s disqualification does opposition a favor
South China Morning Post, January 29, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2130960/agnes-chows-disqualification-does-opposition-favour

Hong Kong’s new water cannon police trucks: if they don’t make your eyes water, the bill will
Hong Kong Free Press, January 28, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/01/28/hong-kongs-new-water-cannon-police-trucks-dont-make-eyes-water-bill-will/

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Chinese doctor told bookseller Gui Minhai to seek medical care abroad, daughter says
South China Morning Post, January 25, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2130624/chinese-doctor-told-bookseller-gui-minhai-seek-medical

杀警案死囚许有臣二审维持原判 (Henan top court upholds death penalty of petitioner Xu Youcheng who stabbed an officer to death in 2014)
Radio Free Asia, January 25, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/gf3-01252018105348.html

河北法院网络直播抓“老赖”，超38万网民感受执行现场 (Live stream of “deadbeat” arrests by Hebei courts get over 380,000 views)
Hebei Daily, January 25, 2018
http://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_1968108

Access to Information (信息公开)

国内网络青年开发翻墙软件遭“人肉”威胁 (Youngster develops software that breaks through the “Great Firewall” but gets threatened)
Radio Free Asia, January 25, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/meiti/ck-01252018100414.html

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

内蒙古毕拉河林业局强行退耕还林 农民集体抗议 (Inner Mongolia peasants protest for land rights at local forestry authority)
Radio Free Asia, January 25, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shaoshuminzu/yf2-01252018103935.html

Related:
China jails dozens of ethnic Mongolian herders who blockaded highway construction
Radio Free Asia, January 25, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/mongolia-herders-01252018135138.html

Students fight back against forced factory labor
Sixthtone, January 25, 2018
http://www.sixthtone.com/news/1001615/students-fight-back-against-forced-factory-labor

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Xi Jinping puts China’s mafia in cross hairs, but fears of judicial abuse remain
South China Morning Post, January 26, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2130629/xi-puts-chinas-mafia-cross-hairs-fears-judicial-abuse

大兴将建宿舍式“打工者之家” (Beijing to build dormitories and pubic canteens for migrant workers)
Beijing Youth Daily, January 26, 2018
http://epaper.ynet.com/html/2018-01/26/content_277288.htm

China needs high-quality, equal for all education: vice premier
Xinhua News Agency, January 26, 2018
http://english.sina.com/china/s/2018-01-26/detail-ifyqyqni3017478.shtml

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

滴滴成立AI Labs 加大人工智能领域投入 (Taxi-hailing app developer Didi Chuxing launches AI Labs to further research on artificial intelligence)
ifeng.com, January 26, 2018
http://wemedia.ifeng.com/46680235/wemedia.shtml

法律专家谈“儿童邪典”：就算不涉黄，传播暴力内容也可获罪 (Legal experts discuss “ElsaGate” in China: Dissemination of violent contents may constitute a crime, even without pornography)
The Paper, January 25, 2018
http://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_1968398

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

China denies plan to build military base in Afghanistan
Reuters, January 25, 2018
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-afghanistan/china-denies-plan-to-build-military-base-in-afghanistan-idUSKBN1FE196

China signaling it may finally “militarize” the South China Sea officially
The Diplomat, January 25, 2018
https://thediplomat.com/2018/01/china-signaling-it-may-finally-militarize-the-south-china-sea-officially/

Hong Kong (香港)

Mainland law in Hong Kong: Gov’t begins final step to enact controversial joint checkpoint mechanism
Hong Kong Free Press, January 26, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/01/26/mainland-law-hong-kong-govt-begins-final-step-enact-controversial-joint-checkpoint-mechanism/

Will activist duo be banned from by-elections? Pan-dems demand answers from beleaguered justice chief
South China Morning Post, January 26, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2130621/pan-dems-demand-answers-justice-minister-amid-mounting

Related:
Interview: Pro-democracy by-election candidate Agnes Chow: who is she and why does she want your vote?
Hong Kong Free Press, January 25, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/01/25/interview-pro-democracy-election-candidate-agnes-chow-want-vote/

Baptist University lecturer decries “cultural revolution”-style attacks on students protesting Mandarin tests
Hong Kong Free Press, January 26, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/01/26/baptist-university-lecturer-decries-cultural-revolution-style-attacks-students-protesting-mandarin-tests/

Related:
浸大教職員發起聯署：老師總不應該被威脅或恐嚇 (Baptist University staff launch signature campaign in support of language center colleagues claiming teachers shouldn’t be threatened or intimidated)
Mingpao, January 25, 2018
https://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20180125/s00001/1516880655237

China's top advisory body gains over 50 new Hong Kong faces
South China Morning Post, January 26, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2130595/dozens-new-faces-hong-kong-join-top-china-advisory-body

Commentary (评论)

Hong Kong students the real losers in language battle
South China Morning Post, January 26, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2130639/hong-kong-students-real-losers-language-battle

Hong Kong should replace its justice chief Teresa Cheng, and refine rules on illegal structures
South China Morning Post, January 25, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2130564/hong-kong-should-replace-its-justice-chief-teresa-cheng-and

Access to Justice (司法公正)

“I’m being politically persecuted again”: China revokes license of human rights lawyer Sui Muqing
Hong Kong Free Press, January 25, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/01/25/im-politically-persecuted-china-revokes-licence-human-rights-lawyer-sui-muqing/

China detained bookseller Gui Minhai “to stop him from telling his story”
South China Morning Post, January 24, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2130435/china-detained-bookseller-gui-minhai-stop-him-telling

Catholic bishops “asked to stand aside” in favor of those approved by Beijing: Report
教廷迫原任命主教让位给爱国主教？ 梵蒂冈重大让步
Radio Free Asia, January 24, 2018
EN: https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/vatican-bishops-01242018135547.html
CH: https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shehui/gf2-01242018110206.html

深圳禁“职业投诉人”恶意举报，包括食品举报却超出合理消费 (Shenzhen bans reports on food safety by “professional complainants” who aim at extorting money from vendors, claiming they “disrupt normal economic market order and affect social harmony and stability”)
Shenzhen Branch of Cyberspace Administration of China, January 24, 2018
http://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_1966679

35名抗议草场被汉人侵占的蒙古族牧民被判刑 (35 herdsmen from Inner Mongolia sentenced after fighting for grassland rights)
Radio Free Asia, January 24, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/yl-01242018153305.html

中央政法工作会议：矢志不渝做社会主义法治国家建设者 (Guo Shengkun, head of Political and Legal Affairs Commission, claims to firmly resist separation of powers and judicial independence.)
People.com.cn, January 23, 2018
http://legal.people.com.cn/n1/2018/0123/c42510-29782366.html

Access to Information (信息公开)

Top Chinese university opens institute to study “Xi Jinping Thought”
北大成立「习近平思想」研究院 民主摇篮沦为政权贴金
Radio Free Asia, January 24, 2018
EN: https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/xijinping-thought-01242018141832.html
CH: https://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/thought-01242018060604.html

黑龙江双鸭山煤矿爆炸2死1伤 地方当局封锁消息 (Heilongjiang government blocks information of deadly coal mine explosion that killed 2 and injured 1)
Radio Free Asia, January 24, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/yf1-01242018105908.html

钱钢语象笔记：“命运共同体”考源 (Qian Gang’s notes on word usage: Origin of “community of common destiny”)
Lianhe Zaobao, January 23, 2018
http://www.zaobao.com/forum/views/opinion/story20180123-829382

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

李文足状告胡锡进侵犯名誉权 (Li Wenzu, wife of rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang, sues Hu Xijin, editor-in-chief at Global Times, for reputation damage)
Radio France Internationale, January 24, 2018
http://bit.ly/2na3Xo7

Chinese mom pays price for an Ivanka Trump probe
Associated Press, January 24, 2018
https://www.usatoday.com/videos/news/nation/2018/01/25/chinese-mom-pays-price-ivanka-trump-probe/109793334/

去年全国网上信访同比上升近八成 (Number of online petition cases up 80% nationwide year on year)
Legal Daily, January 24, 2018
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/index_article/content/2018-01/24/content_7456149.htm

Government Accountability (政府问责)

严查网游违规经营 保护未成年人健康成长 (China to crackdown on “illegal operation” of online video games to protect minors)
People’s Daily, January 25, 2018
http://politics.people.com.cn/n1/2018/0125/c1001-29785454.html

中共中央 国务院发出《关于开展扫黑除恶专项斗争的通知》 (CPC Central Committee and State Council issue notice to “start dedicated battle to remove the black and eradicate the evil”)
Xinhua News Agency, January 24, 2018
http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2018-01/24/c_1122309773.htm

Beijing to demolish thousands of “illegal structures”
British Broadcasting Corporation, January 24, 2018
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-42803571

“She’ll die if she stays with us”: A baby abandoned in China
“孩子在我们手中就是死路一条”，东莞弃婴引热议
The New York Times, January 24, 2018
EN: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/24/world/asia/china-abandoned-baby.html
CH: https://cn.nytimes.com/china/20180125/china-abandoned-baby/zh-CN/

China’s new Davos pledge—blue skies, literally, in three years
Quartz, January 24, 2018
https://qz.com/1187931/davos-2018-chinas-new-davos-pledge-blue-skies-literally-in-three-years/

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

Chinese gov’t taking over administration of Tibetan Buddhist monastery Larung Gar, NGO says
Hong Kong Free Press, January 25, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/01/25/chinese-govt-taking-administration-tibetan-buddhist-monastery-larung-gar-ngo-says/

Related:
China: New controls on Tibetan monastery
Human Rights Watch, January 24, 2018
https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/01/24/china-new-controls-tibetan-monastery

Authorities in China’s Qinghai province block Tibetans from travel amid Dalai Lama teachings
Radio Free Asia, January 24, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/travel-01242018164735.html

Hong Kong (香港)

Video: UK committed to China relationship, but not at expense of Hong Kong’s Handover agreement, minister says
Hong Kong Free Press, January 25, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/01/25/video-uk-committed-china-relationship-not-expense-hong-kongs-handover-agreement-minister-says/

Not for Hong Kong justice chief to decide if ousted lawmakers can run in by-elections, pan-dems say
South China Morning Post, January 25, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2130430/not-hong-kong-justice-chief-decide-if-ousted-lawmakers-can

Related:
Video: Hong Kong pro-democracy party by-election ad features “battered and bruised” ex-lawmakers
Hong Kong Free Press, January 25, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/01/25/video-hong-kong-pro-democracy-party-election-ad-features-battered-bruised-ex-lawmakers/

Baptist University temporarily suspends two students following standoff over Mandarin test
Hong Kong Free Press, January 24, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/01/24/baptist-university-temporarily-suspends-two-students-following-standoff-mandarin-test/

Related:
學聯等聯署 對浸大嚴正抗議和極度遺憾 (Students unions launch signature campaigns in protest against Baptist University’s decision of suspending students)
Radio Television Hong Kong, January 24, 2018
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1377046-20180124.htm

No timetable for reforms on prosecuting power, Hong Kong justice chief says
South China Morning Post, January 24, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2130412/no-timetable-reforms-prosecuting-power-says-hong-kong

Commentary (评论)

Ignore China's economic muscle and condemn it for kidnapping Gui Minhai
The Guardian, January 25, 2018
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jan/25/sweden-ignore-chinas-economic-muscle-condemn-kidnapping-gui-minhai

China reaches into the heart of Europe
The New York Times, January 25, 2018
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/25/opinion/china-germany-tech-manufacturing.html

What happens when the justice secretary’s very action encourage people to disrespect the law?
South China Morning Post, January 24, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/business/article/2130399/what-happens-when-justice-secretarys-very-action-encourage-people

Apple can’t resist playing by China’s rules
陈光诚：苹果向独裁政权出卖了中国用户
The New York Times, January 23, 2018
EN: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/23/opinion/apple-china-data.html
CH: https://cn.nytimes.com/opinion/20180124/apple-china-data/

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Activists and wife say Chinese state media video is an attempt to discredit detained lawyer Yu Wensheng
Hong Kong Free Press, January 24, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/01/24/activists-wife-say-chinese-state-media-video-attempt-discredit-detained-lawyer-yu-wensheng/

Related:
北京警方：一男子暴力袭警致两民警受伤，涉妨害公务罪被刑拘 (Beijing police says rights lawyer Yu Wensheng, now under criminal detention for obstruction, violently assaulted and injured two officers)
The Paper, January 23, 2018
http://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_1963877

Sweden wants answers about its seized citizen. China isn’t giving any.
瑞典政府要求中国通报桂民海消息遭拒绝
The New York Times, January 23, 2018
EN: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/23/world/asia/china-sweden-bookseller.html
CH: https://cn.nytimes.com/china/20180124/china-sweden-bookseller/

Related:
EU envoy urges China to “immediately” release Swedish book publisher Gui Minhai
Agence France-Presse, January 24, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/01/24/eu-envoy-urges-china-immediately-release-swedish-book-publisher-gui-minhai/

Top human rights lawyer stripped of license in China's Guangdong
广东司法厅无预警突袭 维权律师隋牧青遭吊照
Radio Free Asia, January 23, 2018
EN: https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/lawyer-license-01232018154542.html
CH: https://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/lawyer-01232018083111.html

王全璋失踪928天 家属25次控告碰壁 (Family of Wang Quanzhang file 25 complaints but get no results during 928 days when he is missing)
Radio Free Asia, January 23, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/yf1-01232018103302.html

湖南：检察官承办的案件被告人被宣告无罪的，将进行个案评查 (To improve prosecutorial conduct, Hunan pilots review of 6 types of cases, including those end in not-guilty verdicts, state compensation payments, widespread online reactions)
Hunan Daily, January 23, 2018
http://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_1964235