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.

Friday, March 30, 2018

Access to Information (信息公开)

最高法:累计公开老赖信息990多万人次 (Supreme People’s Court has released personal information of 9.9 million “deadbeats,” restricted 10 million from buying flight tickets and 3.9 million from riding trains)
Legal Daily, March 29, 2018
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/index_article/content/2018-03/29/content_7510009.htm?node=5955

China’s Communist Party tightens grip on media, message
Radio Free Asia, March 29, 2018
https://www.voanews.com/a/china-tighten-grip-on-media/4322048.html

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

“玫瑰团队”遭持续打压 河南国保暴力胁迫退群 (Civil rights group “Rose Team” continually suppressed and coerced by Henan domestic security)
Radio Free Asia, March 28, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/gf1-03292018104355.html

Government Accountability (政府问责)

国际人权组织:中国人权状况比5年前差得多 (International human rights organizations: situation in China has steeply worsened over past five years)
Voice of America, March 30, 2018
https://www.voachinese.com/a/reports-from-human-rights-group-20180329/4323125.html

Related:
China’s Challenge to International Human Rights at UN Threatens Everyone: HRIC Submission to the Human Rights Council
Human Rights in China, March 30, 2018
https://www.hrichina.org/en/press-work/hric-bulletin/chinas-challenge-international-human-rights-un-threatens-everyone-hric

Stakeholder submission by Human Rights In China
Human Rights in China, March 2018
https://www.hrichina.org/sites/default/files/hric_china_upr_2018_submission.pdf

人权组织呼吁释放记者、提李明哲案 (Human rights NGOs urge China to release journalists, also raise Lee Ming-Che case)
Deutsche Welle, March 30, 2018
http://p.dw.com/p/2vFKj

Sweden could pressure China to release the author and publisher Gui Minhai… if it wished
Hong Kong Free Press, March 30, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/30/sweden-pressure-china-release-author-publisher-gui-minhai-wished/

The Disappeared: China’s global kidnapping campaign has gone on for years. It may now be reaching inside U.S. borders
Foreign Policy, March 29, 2018
https://foreignpolicy.com/2018/03/29/the-disappeared-china-renditions-kidnapping/l

China’s Communist Party meets the world
Economist, March 28, 2018
https://www.economist.com/news/china/21739659-socialism-chinese-characteristics-explained-sort-chinas-communist-party-meets-world

India spurns the Dalai Lama’s celebration, worried about China
New York Times, March 29, 2018
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/29/world/asia/dalai-lama-india-china-.html

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

中国:VPN整治大限将至 外企忧网络封锁升级 (China: Foreign businesses fear further limit on circumvention by VPN regulations)
Radio France International, March 30, 2018
http://cn.rfi.fr/中国/20180330-中国vpn整治大限将至-外企忧网络封锁升级

China aims for near-total surveillance, including in people's homes
Radio Free Asia, March 30, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/surveillance-03302018111415.html

The Chinese unknown that’s making Africa’s phones
Bloomberg, March 28, 2018
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-28/this-chinese-phone-maker-has-taken-over-africa-for-better-and-worse

China hackers ordered to report software holes to spy agency
中国指示本国黑客不要参加黑客大赛
Financial Times, March 27, 2018
EN: https://www.ft.com/content/eaf7f080-3186-11e8-b5bf-23cb17fd1498
CH: http://www.ftchinese.com/story/001076933

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

China steps up scrutiny of IP transfers to foreign firms on national security grounds
South China Morning Post, March 30, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/economy/article/2139713/china-steps-scrutiny-ip-transfers-foreign-firms-national-security

Related:
国办印发《知识产权对外转让有关工作办法(试行)》涉及技术出口外国投资者并购境内企业 (State Council new rules: cross-border intellectual property transfer to go through national security review)
Legal Daily, March 29, 2018
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/index_article/content/2018-03/29/content_7510157.htm?node=5955

Hong Kong (香港)

港议会「一地两检」案审议遭抗议被迫中断 (Co-location case in Hong Kong forced to stop by protest)
Radio Free Asia, March 28, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/gangtai/cp-03282018110710.html

Commentary (评论)

China’s new surveillance state puts Facebook’s privacy problems in the shade
Washington Post, March 27, 2018
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/global-opinions/wp/2018/03/27/chinas-new-surveillance-state-puts-facebooks-privacy-problems-in-the-shade/

Thursday, March 29, 2018

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Jailed Taiwan activist Lee Ming-cheh denied correspondence rights by China, wife says
Agence France-Presse, March 29, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/29/jailed-taiwan-activist-lee-ming-cheh-denied-correspondence-rights-china-wife-says/

一部电影让他失去十年青春和自由 (He lost ten years of youth and freedom for making a documentary)
Voice of America, March 29, 2018
https://www.voachinese.com/a/tibetan-filmmaker-20180328/4321410.html

China detains “underground” bishop with role in deal with Vatican
Reuters, March 28, 2018
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pope-china-bishop/china-detains-underground-bishop-with-role-in-deal-with-vatican-idUSKBN1H4196?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews

China’s supreme court calls for more leniency in air gun cases
Sixthtone, March 28, 2018
http://www.sixthtone.com/news/1002013/China%E2%80%99s%20Supreme%20Court%20Calls%20for%20More%20Leniency%20in%20Air%20Gun%20Cases

Chinese police jail two women over “vehicle reversing” video clip
武汉市民因“倒车”视频遭超期羁押后获释
Radio Free Asia, March 27, 2018
EN: https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/chinese-police-jail-two-women-over-vehicle-reversing-video-clip-03282018104812.html
CH: https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/gf2-03272018103516.html

Access to Information (信息公开)

Shanghai to ease restrictions on foreign law firms
Shanghai Daily, March 29, 2018
http://english.sina.com/buz/b/2018-03-29/detail-ifyssmmc0860684.shtml

When Xi met Kim: How China and North Korea depicted it
中朝媒体如何报道金正恩访华?
The New York Times, March 28, 2018
EN: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/28/world/asia/xi-jinping-kim-jong-un-meeting-.html
CH: https://cn.nytimes.com/asia-pacific/20180329/xi-jinping-kim-jong-un-meeting-/

台电影大陆遭封杀 国台办要禁台独艺人 (China bans a Taiwan movie, Taiwan Affairs Office says China will block actors who support Taiwan independence)
Radio Free Asia, March 28, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/gangtai/hcm1-03282018104725.html

有企业规定不转发单位公号文章就扣钱, 有公司要求员工二十四小时打开定位系统, 一些企业内部管理奇葩规定有侵权之嫌 (Companies demand employees to turn on GPS 24/7, repost companies’ public account articles on personal WeChat or have pay docked)
Legal Daily, March 27, 2018
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/index_article/content/2018-03/27/content_7506291.htm?node=5955

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

现代版连坐第一案 “屠夫”父亲诉国家赔偿1千万 (Right activist “Butcher” Wu Gan’s father file court action against China for arbitrary arrest and harassment)
Radio Free Asia, March 28, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/gf1-03282018110616.html

China is trying to prevent the formation of a vocal Uighur diaspora
The Economist, March 28, 2018
https://www.economist.com/news/china/21739777-it-has-persuaded-friendly-countries-send-lots-them-home-china-trying-prevent

Government Accountability (政府问责)

七城市国控空气监测站点受人为干扰 相关人员被处理 (Seven cities officials are held accountable for cheating air quality monitoring station)
Chinanews.com, March 29, 2018
http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2018/03-29/8478750.shtml

第二批中央环保督察7省份共问责1048人 其中省部级3人(Central environmental inspectors scrutinized, 1048 held accountable, including 3 provincial level officials)
Beijing News, March 29, 2018
http://www.bjnews.com.cn/news/2018/03/29/481108.html

China urges northern cities to shut factories as smog builds - report
Reuters, March 27, 2018
https://goo.gl/c53gNA

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

五角大楼顾问警告:中国人工智能武器不得不防 (Pentagon advisor warns of China’s “artificial intelligence weapon”)
Voice of America, March 29, 2018
https://www.voachinese.com/a/china-ai-20180329/4321837.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Hong Kong privacy watchdog demands answers from Facebook on data security after Cambridge Analytica scandal
South China Morning Post, March 28, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/2139340/hong-kong-privacy-watchdog-demands-answers-facebook-data

Airbnb China tells hosts it will share their data with the gov’t from Friday
Hong Kong Free Press, March 28, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/28/airbnb-china-tells-hosts-will-share-data-govt-friday/

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

China academics divided over Australia influence crackdown
The Financial Times, March 28, 2018
https://www.ft.com/content/d79f10c4-3224-11e8-b5bf-23cb17fd1498

Hong Kong (香港)

Hong Kong court rejects legal bid to disqualify pro-democracy lawmaker Au Nok-hin
Hong Kong Free Press, March 29, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/29/breaking-hong-kong-court-rejects-legal-bid-disqualify-pro-democracy-lawmaker-au-nok-hin/

Hong Kong youth commission starts work, as teenager becomes youngest adviser to the government
South China Morning Post, March 29, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2139359/hong-kong-youth-commission-starts-work-teenager-becomes

Related:

反佔中青年自薦加入成功 團體批新青年委員會「掩耳盜鈴」促全港青年民選產生 (Groups criticize Youth Development Commission choice of vocal anti-Occupy youth as advisor, urge direct election of representatives by all Hong Kong youth)
Inmedia, March 29, 2018
https://www.inmediahk.net/node/1056079

Rent control, subsidies dismissed for Hong Kong – “but we’ll build more flats”, leader Carrie Lam says
South China Morning Post, March 28, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2139285/rent-control-subsidies-dismissed-hong-kong-well-build-more

Hong Kong lawmakers receive letters calling for “assassination” of election officers and justice chief
Hong Kong Free Press, March 28, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/28/hong-kong-lawmakers-receive-letters-calling-assassination-election-officers-justice-chief/

Hong Kong Baptist University student union hopeful has ‘no bottom line’, vows to continue Mandarin fight
South China Morning Post, March 28, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/2139330/hong-kong-baptist-university-student-union-hopeful-has-no

Commentary (评论)

Can Xi Jinping make use of the power he has accumulated?
The Economist, March 29, 2018
https://www.economist.com/news/china/21739770-promoting-party-expense-bureaucracy-deters-reform-can-xi-jinping-make-use

Can China's great show of unity last?
The Diplomat, March 28, 2018
https://thediplomat.com/2018/03/can-chinas-great-show-of-unity-last/

Chairman Xi, Chinese idol
China File, March 14, 2018
http://www.chinafile.com/library/nyrb-china-archive/chairman-xi-chinese-idol

Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Access to Justice (司法公正)

RSF urges China to free citizen-journalist held at “black site” for six months
Reporters Sans Frontières, March 28, 2018
https://rsf.org/en/news/rsf-urges-china-free-citizen-journalist-held-black-site-six-months

Beijing rights lawyers prevented from sending money to son studying overseas
“709”律师王宇给海外留学儿子汇款受限
Radio Free Asia, March 27, 2018
EN: https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/overseas-03272018130235.html
CH: https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/ql2-03272018103137.html

Xinjiang authorities detain Uyghurs “wanting to travel abroad”
Radio Free Asia, March 27, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/uyghur/travel-03272018162009.html

Access to Information (信息公开)

有企业规定不转发单位公号文章就扣钱, 有公司要求员工二十四小时打开定位系统, 一些企业内部管理奇葩规定有侵权之嫌 (Companies demand employees to turn on GPS 24/7, repost companies’ public account articles on personal WeChat or have pay docked)
Legal Daily, March 27, 2018
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/index_article/content/2018-03/27/content_7506291.htm

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

“一点也不在乎习近平”:新一波海外学运观察 (“Don’t give a damn about Xi Jinping”: New wave of student movement overseas)
The New York Times, March 28, 2018
https://cn.nytimes.com/china/20180328/never-my-president/

Government Accountability (政府问责)

吕梁原副市长张中生受贿10.4亿一审被判死刑 (Disgraced former deputy mayor sentenced to death penalty for accepting RMB 1.04 billion bribe)
The Beijing News, March 28, 2018
http://www.bjnews.com.cn/news/2018/03/28/480925.html

China and Russia accused of waging “war on human rights” at UN
The Guardian, March 27, 2018
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/27/china-and-russia-accused-of-waging-war-on-human-rights-at-un

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

Xiaomi forms AI team to develop more leading edge products
Sina English, March 28, 2018
http://english.sina.com/buz/b/2018-03-28/detail-ifysqfnh8023283.shtml