Government Accountability (政府问责)

关于国务院机构改革方案的说明 (State Council sets up new Ministry of Culture and Tourism and State Administration of Radio and TV, both tasked with “implementing party propaganda policies”)
Xinhua News Agency, March 14, 2018
http://www.gov.cn/xinwen/2018-03/14/content_5273856.htm

China puts an end to its notorious one-child policy enforcer
South China Morning Post, March 14, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2137094/china-puts-end-its-notorious-one-child-policy-enforcer

China plans new competition, food watchdog in government revamp
Reuters, March 13, 2018
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-parliament-competition/china-plans-new-competition-food-watchdog-in-government-revamp-idUSKCN1GP1JC

New immigration bureau set up to handle growing number of foreigners in China
South China Morning Post, March 13, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2137058/new-immigration-bureau-set-handle-growing-number

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

王士岭代表：建议全民开展国际公德教育，建立个人信用档案 (15 NPC deputies propose nationwide international social ethics education to raise international laws awareness, build performance-based individual credit files)
The Paper, March 13, 2018
http://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_2027703

China delaying reports of software loopholes so intelligence agency can exploit them, researchers find
Hong Kong Free Press, March 13, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/13/china-delaying-reports-software-loopholes-intelligence-agency-can-exploit-researchers-find/

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

Xinjiang official vows to continue “intense” campaign against separatists
South China Morning Post, March 14, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2137061/xinjiang-official-vows-continue-intense-campaign

Fear of China scuttles deal that didn't involve China
Wired, March 13, 2018
https://www.wired.com/story/fear-of-china-scuttles-deal-that-didnt-involve-china/

China launches mega aid agency in big shift from recipient to donor
South China Morning Post, March 13, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/2137036/china-launches-mega-aid-agency-big-shift-recipient

Why China spends huge amounts on internal security
Inkstone, March 13, 2018
https://www.inkstonenews.com/politics/how-much-china-spends-internal-security/article/2136970

Hong Kong (香港)

“Innocent victim”: Activist Howard Lam pleads not guilty to making false police report over abduction allegations
Hong Kong Free Press, March 14, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/14/innocent-victim-activist-howard-lam-pleads-not-guilty-making-false-police-report-abduction-allegations/

王光亞：立會補選結果不錯 搞政治活動對香港發展不利 (Former head of HK and Macau Affairs Office claims by-election results “not bad”, “political activity harms development of HK”)
Radio Television Hong Kong, March 14, 2018
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1385708-20180314.htm

Related:
“Dirty election”: Lawmaker-elect Au Nok-hin calls pro-Beijing camp “sore loser" for filing legal challenge against him
Hong Kong Free Press, March 14, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/14/dirty-election-lawmaker-elect-au-nok-hin-calls-pro-beijing-camp-sore-loser-filing-legal-challenge/

Joint checkpoint deal has no constitutional foundation; legislature has no authority to enact it, says Bar Assoc.
Hong Kong Free Press, March 14, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/14/joint-checkpoint-deal-no-constitutional-foundation-legislature-no-authority-enact-says-bar-assoc/

Related:
Submission of the Hong Kong Bar Association: In respect of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (Co-location) Bill
Hong Kong Bar Association, March 13, 2018
http://bit.ly/2Fz8mMK

Apologetic Hong Kong by-election loser Edward Yiu says pan-dems must explain confrontational Legco antics to voters
South China Morning Post, March 14, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2137053/apologetic-hong-kong-election-loser-edward-yiu-says-pan-dems

Related:
鏗鏘集：意料之外 (An unexpected failure)
Radio Television Hong Kong, March 12, 2018
https://youtu.be/6UgWdTnzDpk

Businessman files challenge to disqualify incoming lawmaker Au Nok-hin over burning of Basic Law “prop”
Hong Kong Free Press, March 13, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/13/businessman-files-challenge-disqualify-incoming-lawmaker-au-nok-hin-burning-basic-law-prop/

Related:
市民提覆核區諾軒資格 梁家傑:與選民為敵 (Alan Leong calls citizen’s attempt to disqualify Au Nok-hin “making enemy with the people”)
HKEJ, March 13, 2018
http://bit.ly/2DqEtIq

Commentary (评论)

What the Xi Jinping era will mean for China and the world
Livemint, March 14, 2018
http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/ZZk5DnIo0Ko48l1BPPfq2O/What-the-Xi-Jinping-era-will-mean-for-China-and-the-world.html

Can the quad counter China's Belt and Road Initiative?
The Diplomat, March 14, 2018
https://thediplomat.com/2018/03/can-the-quad-counter-chinas-belt-and-road-initiative/

政治局勢急變 我的幾點思考 (Nathan Law: My thoughts on the changing political tides)
Inmediahk, March 14, 2018
http://www.inmediahk.net/node/1055745

Forbidden Feeds: Government controls on social media in China
PEN America, March 13, 2018
https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/PENAmerica_Forbidden-Feeds-3.13-3.pdf

Access to Justice (司法公正)

國家《監察法》草案指可將被調查人「留置」特定場所 (NPC reviews draft of Supervision Law, suspects could be held at designated location for up to 6 months without trial)
Radio Television Hong Kong, March 13, 2018
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1385576-20180313.htm

Related:
Far-reaching powers of China’s new super anti-corruption agency revealed
South China Morning Post, March 13, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2136949/far-reaching-powers-chinas-new-super-anti-corruption

太陽花學運佔領立法院案二審 高院維持原判22人無罪 (Taiwan High Court upholds ruling, acquits 22 Sunflower Student Movement activists)
Radio Television Hong Kong, March 13, 2018
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1385560-20180313.htm

四川女子网上发布虚假信息诽谤警方不作为，被行政拘留5日 (Sichuan woman detained for 5 days for allegedly spreading false information online of being extorted by thugs at police station)
Chinanews.com, March 12, 2018
http://www.chinanews.com/sh/2018/03-12/8466033.shtml

Xi's rise crushes political reform predictions
Agence France-Presse, March 12, 2018
https://www.afp.com/en/news/824/xis-rise-crushes-political-reform-predictions-doc-12d47y1

Access to Information (信息公开)

Beijing police order limit on foreigners in university district pizza bars and cafes
South China Morning Post, March 13, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2136879/beijing-police-order-limit-foreigners-university

Chinese culture ministry merger in the works in renewed overseas soft power push
South China Morning Post, March 12, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2136901/chinese-culture-ministry-merger-works-renewed-overseas

“Shameless naysayers”: Chinese media hits back at questions over Xi Jinping's power grab
The Guardian, March 12, 2018
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/12/chinese-media-hits-back-questions-xi-jinpings-power-grab

中国司法部禁止律师接受外媒采访 (Ministry of Justice bans lawyers from talking to foreign media)
Radio Free Asia, March 12, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/zhengzhi/QL2-03122018122012.html

微信调整公众号留言功能开放规则：取消新注册账号留言功能 (WeChat disables comment function for newly registered public accounts)
The Paper, March 12, 2018
http://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_2025601

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

The future lasts forever
来日方长
Medium, March 12, 2018
EN: https://medium.com/@xisnotmypresident/the-future-lasts-forever-566b2cd7dfb7
CH: http://bit.ly/2FIKjub

Turning the rubble of China’s mass evictions into protest art
北京“大驱逐”后，来自艺术界的反抗之声
The New York Times, March 10, 2018
EN: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/10/world/asia/china-migrants-protest-art.html
CH: https://cn.nytimes.com/china/20180312/china-migrants-protest-art/

Government Accountability (政府问责)

China slashes ministries in sweeping changes to reduce bureaucracy, end turf wars
South China Morning Post, March 13, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/economy/article/2136939/china-unveils-sweeping-governmental-changes-cut-bureaucracy-and

Related:
China’s Communist Party centralizes power over finance, pollution control
The New York Times, March 12, 2018
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/12/business/china-consolidates-power-financial-industry.html

国务院组建退役军人事务部，加强服务保障体系建设 (State Council to set up veteran’s affair department to provide better care)
The Beijing News, March 13, 2018
http://www.bjnews.com.cn/news/2018/03/13/478793.html

China proposes abolition of work safety body
China Labor Bulletin, March 13, 2018
http://www.clb.org.hk/content/china-proposes-abolition-work-safety-body

China's attendance at Vatican organ conference hailed as boon to ties, peace
Reuters, March 12, 2018
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-vatican/chinas-attendance-at-vatican-organ-conference-hailed-as-boon-to-ties-peace-idUSKCN1GO0N4

Four years after declaring war on pollution, China is winning
治理空气污染迅速见效，中国是怎么做到的？
The New York Times, March 12, 2018
EN: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/12/upshot/china-pollution-environment-longer-lives.html
CH: https://cn.nytimes.com/china/20180313/china-pollution-environment-longer-lives/

A Chinese mayor-to-be tells his story
China File, March 12, 2018
http://www.chinafile.com/library/excerpts/chinese-mayor-be-tells-his-story

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

China’s Xi Jinping calls for military loyalty to new constitution
Agence France-Presse, March 13, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/13/chinas-xi-jinping-calls-military-loyalty-new-constitution/

China’s arms sales rise as it vies with US for influence on the world stage
South China Morning Post, March 12, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/2136877/chinas-arms-sales-rise-it-vies-us-influence-world-stage

Hong Kong (香港)

Edward Yiu on failed by-election bid: I should have done more traditional street campaigning
Hong Kong Free Press, March 13, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/13/edward-yiu-failed-election-bid-i-done-traditional-street-campaigning/

Related:
Choices of the rich, poor and middle-class: how Hong Kong Island residents voted in Sunday’s by-election
South China Morning Post, March 12, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2136864/choices-rich-poor-and-middle-class-how-hong-kong-island

Did localists abandon the pan-democrats in Hong Kong by-election?
South China Morning Post, March 13, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2136899/did-localists-abandon-pan-democrats-hong-kong-election

Related:
By-election victor Gary Fan secures support from democratic camp, but failed to win over localists
Hong Kong Free Press, March 12, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/12/election-victor-gary-fan-secures-support-democratic-camp-failed-win-localists/

Commentary (评论)

As China and the Vatican make peace, will a reconciliation between official and underground churches follow?
South China Morning Post, March 13, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2136841/china-and-vatican-make-peace-will-reconciliation-between

補選結果芻議：還姚松炎一個公道 (Results of by-election: Justice needs to be served for Edward Yiu)
Mingpao, March 13, 2018
https://m.mingpao.com/pns/dailynews/web_tc/article/20180313/ s00012/1520879184488

Related:
馬嶽：姚松炎敗選 揭露比失落議席更嚴重的真相 (Political scientist Ma Ngok says Edward Yiu losing LegCo seat reveals HK citizens are tired, don’t care about disqualifications as much as the pan-dems thought)
Stand News, March 12, 2018
http://bit.ly/2FBynXF

「完美的獨裁者」：是什麼限制了中國政治研究者的想像力？ (The perfect dictator: What constrains Chinese political researchers from imaging?)
British Broadcasting Corporation, March 12, 2018
http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/trad/indepth-43368160

Chinese history isn’t over
China File, March 12, 2018
http://www.chinafile.com/reporting-opinion/viewpoint/chinese-history-isnt-over

Access to Justice (司法公正)

China sets up new super agency to fight corruption
South China Morning Post, March 12, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2136757/china-sets-new-super-agency-fight-corruption

Related:
监察法生效后会否与人民检察院组织法冲突？王胜明回应 (Will the Supervision Law contradict to the Organic Law of the People’s Procuatorates? Internal and Judicial Affairs Committee says the later and Criminal Law will be amended for consistency)
Chinanews.com, March 12, 2018
http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2018/03-12/8465533.shtml

Xi Jinping’s rise from graft-fighting governor to president for life
Agence France-Presse, March 11, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/11/xi-jinpings-rise-graft-fighting-governor-president-life/

Related:
“This could destroy China”: Parliament sets Xi Jinping up to rule for life
The Guardian, March 11, 2018
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/11/this-could-destroy-china-parliament-sets-xi-jinping-up-to-rule-for-life/

维权“女侠”吴菊芳被刑拘，南京公安制造冤假错案打脸最高法院 (Rights defender Wu Jufang, previously kidnapped in secret, confirmed of under detention of Nanjing police)
Weiquanwang, March 11, 2018
http://wqw2010.blogspot.hk/2018/03/blog-post_22.html

修宪提案几乎全票通过 两张反对票是遮羞布？ (Constitution amendments passed almost unanimously, are the only two nays just cover-up?)
Radio Free Asia, March 11, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/zhengzhi/hc-03112018141352.html

Related:
胡佳：这个时候要站在最前沿抗争 (Chinese dissent Hu Jia says it is time to fight on the front line)
Voice of America, March 11, 2018
https://www.voachinese.com/a/hujia-interview-20180310/4291511.html

十三届全国人大一次会议举行第二次全体会议 (Heads of Supreme People’s Court, Supreme People’s Procuratorate report to NPC, propose “thoroughly studying and implementing Xi Jinping Thought” as 2018 work priority)
National People’s Congress, March 9, 2018
http://www.npc.gov.cn/npc/dbdhhy/13_1/2018-03/09/content_2044925.htm

Access to Information (信息公开)

Chinese state media defends removing presidential term limits
Reuters, March 12, 2018
http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/chinese-state-media-defends-removing-presidential-term-limits

Why has Cantonese fallen out of favor with Guangzhou youngsters?
South China Morning Post, March 12, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2136237/why-has-cantonese-fallen-out-favour-guangzhou-youngsters

Prominent Chinese feminist social media account censored on International Women’s Day
Hong Kong Free Press, March 9, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/09/prominent-chinese-feminist-social-media-account-censored-international-womens-day/

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Civil society groups maligned as Western conspiracy in Asia
The Sydney Morning Herald, March 11, 2018
https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/civil-society-groups-maligned-as-western-conspiracy-in-asia-20180311-p4z3t3.html

Taiwanese protesters rally for “nuclear-free” island
Agence France-Presse, March 11, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2136732/taiwanese-protesters-rally-nuclear-free-island

违宪损害法治 公民吁罢免司法部长张军 (Citizens and lawyers launch petition and call head of Ministry of Justice to resign, claiming new regulations on legal practitioners violate the Constitution)
Radio Free Asia, March 9, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/yf1-03092018093225.html

Far from home and censors, some Chinese students protest Xi’s power move
“不是我的国家主席”：在美中国留学生抗议修宪
The New York Times, March 9, 2018
EN: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/09/us/xi-student-protest-china.html
CH: https://cn.nytimes.com/usa/20180312/xi-student-protest-china/

Government Accountability (政府问责)

中国生态保护红线年内划定 为绿水青山设制度“屏障” (Ministry of Environmental Protection claims to draw “bio-protection redline” before year end)
Chinanews.com, March 12, 2018
http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2018/03-12/8465598.shtml

部分地方行政干预司法情况严重 人大法工委回应 (NPC Law Committee says serious executive interference in judiciary persists in some part of the country)
Chinanews.com, March 12, 2018
http://news.sina.com.cn/o/2018-03-12/doc-ifyseuks3012332.shtml

【聚焦监察法草案】②监察委员会是政治机关 (China Discipline Inspection Daily: National Supervision Commission is a political organ — not an administrative or judicial organ — whose fundamental purpose is to bolster CPC leadership in anti-corruption work)
China Discipline Inspection Commission, March 8, 2018
http://www.ccdi.gov.cn/yaowen/201803/t20180308_165743.html

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

China to restructure foreign affairs team in push for greater role on world stage, source says
South China Morning Post, March 10, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/2136651/china-restructure-foreign-affairs-team-push-greater

Hong Kong, (香港)

Hong Kong democrats win 2 of 4 seats in legislative by-election, as ousted lawmaker Edward Yiu fails to regain seat
Hong Kong Free Press, March 12, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/12/breaking-hong-kong-democrats-win-2-4-seats-legislative-election/

Related:
Campaigning failures and inexperience cost me the election, says defeated Hong Kong democrat Edward Yiu
Hong Kong Free Press, March 12, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/12/campaigning-failures-inexperience-cost-election-says-defeated-hong-kong-democrat-edward-yiu/

九西票站分析 建制區議員樁腳效應勁 公屋區得票大勝 (Statistics from polling stations show pro-establishment successfully mobilize their own constituencies, huge victory in public housing districts)
Inmediahk, March 12, 2018
https://www.inmediahk.net/node/1055700

What happened to the disqualifications backlash? Five takeaways from Hong Kong’s Legco by-election
South China Morning Post, March 12, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2136794/what-happened-disqualifications-backlash-5-takeaways-hong

President of legislature says he is not worried about repeat of oath-taking row
Hong Kong Free Press, March 12, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/12/president-legislature-says-not-worried-repeat-oath-taking-row/

”Constitutional order” in Hong Kong maintained, leader of China’s legislature says
South China Morning Post, March 12, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2136752/constitutional-order-hong-kong-maintained-leader-chinas

Commentary (评论)

西方对中国崛起的神助攻 (How the West assist rise of China)
Financial Times, March 12, 2018
http://www.ftchinese.com/story/001076655

“President for life” Xi risks repeat of China’s Mao-era mistakes
South China Morning Post, March 11, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/2136255/president-life-xi-risks-repeat-chinas-mao-era-mistakes

”Every place you go, you are being watched”: Reporting from Xi's China
The Guardian, March 10, 2018
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/10/chill-looks-set-linger-reporting-from-xis-china

YouTube, the great radicalizer
The New York Times, March 10, 2018
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/10/opinion/sunday/youtube-politics-radical.html

End of an era
China File, March 9, 2018
http://www.chinafile.com/library/books/end-of-era

Access to Justice (司法公正)

最高法：认真落实习近平主席特赦令，特赦罪犯31527人 (Supreme People’s Court perfects legal protection of human rights and pardons 31,527 criminals following Xi’s order)
The Paper, March 9, 2018
http://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_2023538

Related:
周强：赞成宪法修正案草案 坚决遵守维护宪法 (Supreme People’s Court chief Zhou Qiang: “Sincerely supports constitutional amendments” that “meet the needs of the era” and “fulfils people’s expectations”)
Supreme People’s Court, March 7, 2018
http://www.court.gov.cn/zixun-xiangqing-83992.html

Sweden criticizes China's “unacceptable” behavior in detaining bookseller
The Guardian, March 9, 2018
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/09/sweden-china-unacceptable-behaviour-detaining-bookseller

黄琦拒绝认罪 检察院提刑期最高15年 (Huang Qi, founder of pro-democracy website, refuses to confess and faces 15 yrs in jail)
Radio Free Asia, March 8, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/ql2-03082018103047.html

西藏流亡官方悼念拉萨起义死难者 (Exiled Tibetan gov mourns victims in 1989 Lhasa uprising)
Radio Free Asia, March 8, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shaoshuminzu/dz-03082018114724.html

Interview: “I wanted her to be safe”
Radio Free Asia, March 8, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/uyghur/sister-03082018164727.html

China on track for “return to Mao Era" of ideological controls: analysts
习近平高调赞同修宪 评论指友好西方国家会重新评价
Radio Free Asia, March 8, 2018
EN: https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/xijinping-control-03082018125136.html
CH: https://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/xi-03082018084642.html

Xi Jinping's latest tag: living Buddhist deity, Chinese official says
Reuters, March 8, 2018
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-parliament-xi-boddhisatva/xi-jinpings-latest-tag-living-buddhist-deity-chinese-official-says-idUSKCN1GK0V6

Related:
Xi Jinping is using his growing authority to amass even more
The Economist, March 8, 2018
https://www.economist.com/news/china/21738333-hopes-bold-economic-reforms-look-forlorn-xi-jinping-using-his-growing-authority-amass

38位文艺界委员联合提案：制定保护国格与民族尊严专门法 (38 CPPCC members propose legislation to protect national dignity and severely punish Chinese citizens promoting Japanese militarism, insulting national heroes and martyrs)
China Youth Daily, March 8, 2018
http://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_2022747