Hong Kong (香港)

Qiao Xiaoyang’s mission to “promote and popularize” Chinese constitution in Hong Kong
South China Morning Post, April 20, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2142503/qiao-xiaoyangs-mission-promote-and-popularise-chinese

Related:
喬曉陽來港宣講憲法 湯家驊引述：港獨非言論自由 是違憲問題 (Ronny Tong quotes Qiao Xiaoyang: Hong Kong independence is not freedom of speech, it is unconstitutional)
HK01, April 20, 2018
https://bit.ly/2HfMPcU

Insufficient proof to prosecute lawmaker Junius Ho after remarks on “killing” independence advocates – police
Hong Kong Free Press, April 20, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/04/20/insufficient-proof-prosecute-lawmaker-junius-ho-remarks-killing-independence-advocates-police/

Colonial street names and royal cyphers on postboxes will not be removed, says Hong Kong gov’t
Hong Kong Free Press, April 20, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/04/20/colonial-street-names-royal-ciphers-postboxes-will-not-removed-says-hong-kong-govt/

Democrats urge ex-leader CY Leung to reveal documents to prove his version of facts in HK$50m payment row
Hong Kong Free Press, April 19, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/04/19/democrats-urge-ex-leader-cy-leung-reveal-documents-prove-version-facts-hk50m-payment-row/

Hong Kong localist Edward Leung accused of using parade as “smokescreen” to defy police during Mong Kok riot
South China Morning Post, April 19, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/2142489/hong-kong-localist-edward-leung-accused-using-parade

Commentary (评论)

Five ways China's past has shaped its present
British Broadcasting Corporation, April 20, 2018
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-43714279

Trump’s incredibly risky Taiwan policy
China File, April 19, 2018
http://www.chinafile.com/reporting-opinion/viewpoint/trumps-incredibly-risky-taiwan-policy

Access to Justice (司法公正)

US could sanction Chinese officials over Xinjiang abuses
Associated Press, April 18, 2018
https://apnews.com/13ee0b95c05249a8be7c0467bf413b6e

Related:
Tens of thousands detained in China's Xinjiang, U.S. diplomat says
Reuters, April 18, 2018
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-xinjiang-usa/tens-of-thousands-detained-in-chinas-xinjiang-u-s-diplomat-says-idUSKBN1HP17N

帮助良心犯家属 多名义工遭刑拘多人被约谈 (Volunteers criminally detained in Jiangxi for helping family of prisoners of conscience)
Radio Free Asia, April 18, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/yf2-04182018115246.html

Chinese court rejects appeal against subversion sentence for “the butcher”
Radio Free Asia, April 18, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/chinese-court-rejects-appeal-against-subversion-sentence-for-the-butcher-04182018112357.html

Access to Information (信息公开)

An exchange between Gui Minhai’s daughter and the Post’s Editor-in-Chief
South China Morning Post, April 18, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/2142228/exchange-between-gui-minhais-daughter-and-posts-editor-chief

北京工商部门约谈“抖音” 要求即时阻断违规直播 (Beijing Commerce Department requests Douyin to strengthen technical monitoring, manually review content, “swiftly block illegal live-streaming”)
China Consumer News, April 18, 2018
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/index_article/content/2018-04/18/content_7524468.htm

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Government cartoon portrays “foreign NGOs” as national security concern
China File, April 18, 2018
http://www.chinafile.com/ngo/latest/government-cartoon-portrays-foreign-ngos-national-security-concern

Government Accountability (政府问责)

福建闽侯一教会被限期关闭 官员：未登记一律关闭 (Family church in Fujian ordered to shut down for failing to register)
Radio Free Asia, April 18, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shehui/ql1-04182018115050.html

China fights big smog with big air purifier
Agence France-Presse, April 18, 2018
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/china-fights-big-smog-with-big-air-purifier-10150678

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

This AI expert found it “both exciting and scary” that Xi Jinping reads his book
Quartz, April 19, 2018
https://qz.com/1256330/artificial-intelligence-expert-pedro-domingos-reflects-on-chinas-xi-jinping-reading-his-book-the-master-algorithm/

China is putting ID cards on smartphones
Abacus, April 18, 2018
https://www.abacusnews.com/digital-life/china-putting-id-cards-smartphones/article/2142245

进一步推动社会信用体系建设实施9种行为的旅客将被限制乘坐飞机 (9 behaviors that ban passengers from flying include insulting civil aviation workers, forcibly taking seats and luggage shelfs, picking quarrels and provoking troubles, smoking)
Legal Daily, April 18, 2018
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/index_article/content/2018-04/18/content_7524255.htm

大數據權利之爭：對不起，你的數據屬於你，但我們有權使用 (Fights for rights in the era of Big Data: “Sorry, your data belongs to you, but we are entitled to use it.”)
The Initium, April 17, 2018
https://theinitium.com/article/20180417-mainland-big-data/

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

China carries out low-key live fire drills after warning Taiwan
Reuters, April 19, 2018
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-taiwan/china-carries-out-low-key-live-fire-drills-after-warning-taiwan-idUSKBN1HQ04G

Tibetan charged in Sweden denies spying for China
Radio Free Asia, April 18, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/spying-04182018133403.html

The Chinese communist party is setting up cells at universities across America
Foreign Policy, April 18, 2018
http://foreignpolicy.com/2018/04/18/the-chinese-communist-party-is-setting-up-cells-at-universities-across-america-china-students-beijing-surveillance/

十九届中央国安委首会，习近平压实责任 (Xi Jinping hosts meeting of National Security Commission: Political security is the foundation of national security)
Xinhua News Agency, April 18, 2018
http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2018-04/18/c_1122704142.htm

Hong Kong (香港)

課本中港關係字眼「有問題」 教局拒評修改 (Education Bureau refuses to comment on history textbook edits)
Mingpao, April 19, 2018
https://news.mingpao.com/pns/dailynews/web_tc/article/20180419/s00011/1524075059294

Hong Kong police promise not to prosecute drivers they used as “human roadblocks” in fatal Fanling crash
Hong Kong Free Press, April 19, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/04/19/hong-kong-police-promise-not-prosecute-drivers-used-human-roadblocks-fatal-fanling-crash/

Expert team did not meet to discuss Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge safety fears
South China Morning Post, April 19, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2142335/expert-team-did-not-meet-discuss-hong-kong-zhuhai-macau

Homes made from old shipping containers set to be built for 100 needy families in Sham Shui Po
South China Morning Post, April 19, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/community/article/2142343/homes-made-old-shipping-containers-set-be-built-100-needy

Mong Kok unrest: Edward Leung apologizes for assaulting police officer; says he had no plan to use violence
Hong Kong Free Press, April 18, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/04/18/mong-kok-unrest-edward-leung-apologises-assaulting-police-officer-says-no-plan-use-violence/

Commentary (评论)

Xi Jinping’s “cyber sovereignty” fast eroding space for free expression
Chinese Human Rights Defenders, April 19, 2018
https://www.nchrd.org/2018/04/xi-jinpings-cyber-sovereignty-fast-eroding-space-for-free-expression/

China’s gift to Europe is a new version of crony capitalism
The Guardian, April 18, 2018
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/apr/18/chinese-europe-czech-republic-crony-capitalism

A ban on gay content, stopped in its tracks
China File, April 18, 2018
http://www.chinafile.com/conversation/ban-gay-content-stopped-its-tracks

從「毅絲」到「段友」，兩千萬日活的手機應用為何被突然斬殺？(How did popular joke app “Neihan Duanzi” get shut down?)
The Initium, April 17, 2018
https://theinitium.com/article/20180418-opinion-bilixiaozi-meaningful-jokes/

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Chinese traffic police let offenders off if they post a confession online (and it gets enough likes)
South China Morning Post, April 18, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2142276/chinese-traffic-police-let-offenders-if-they-post-confession

中国公安部长：坚决捍卫国家政治安全 (Head of Ministry of Public Security claims to firmly defend political security)
Voice of America, April 18, 2018
https://www.voachinese.com/a/china-secutrity-20180417/4352291.html

維權鐵漢吳淦囚8年 上訴維持原判 (Appeal court upholds sentence, sends rights defender Wu Gan to 8 years in jail)
Apple Daily, April 17, 2018
https://hk.news.appledaily.com/china/realtime/article/20180417/58086013

Tibetan farmland seized for new airport
Radio Free Asia, April 17, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/farmland-04172018164111.html

Chinese doctor at center of “poison tonic” case released from detention center
South China Morning Post, April 17, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2142164/chinese-doctor-centre-poison-tonic-case-released

Access to Information (信息公开)

央视记者在山西暗访化工国企遭扣押，村干部：不说好出不了村 (Shanxi village officials detain CCTV journalists for investigating pollution at chemical factory)
China Central Television, April 18, 2018
https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_2081902

文化和旅游部集中检查网络表演、网络游戏市场 (Ministry of Culture and Tourism intensifies scrutiny of gaming, live-streaming apps, websites to weed out banned contents)
Xinhua News Agency, April 17, 2018
http://www.xinhuanet.com/legal/2018-04/17/c_1122697183.htm

Related:
China closes illegal live-streaming platforms, online games
Xinhua News Agency, April 17, 2018
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201804/17/WS5ad60cb7a3105cdcf6518de6.html

人民日报评论官微刊随笔文章：“不一样的烟火”一样可以绽放 (People’s Daily WeChat Public Account promotes gay rights, says gays have “social responsibilities”)
People’s Daily WeChat Public Account, April 15, 2018
https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_2076922

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

#Metoo in China: Fledgling movement in universities fights censorship
The Guardian, April 18, 2018
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/18/metoo-in-china-fledgling-movement-in-universities-fights-censorship

Bao Zou big news: Privacy in the era of big data
China Digital Times, April 17, 2018
https://chinadigitaltimes.net/2018/04/bao-zou-big-news-events-privacy-in-the-era-of-big-data/

“Beep. Beep Beep”: a group emerges in China and a code is born
China Change, April 17, 2018
https://chinachange.org/2018/04/17/beep-beep-beep-a-group-emerges-in-china-and-a-code-is-born/

First gay-ish film widely released in China
Sixth Tone, April 16, 2018
http://www.sixthtone.com/news/1002095/first-gay-ish-film-widely-released-in-china

Related:
It’s still (just about) OK to be gay in China
Foreign Policy, April 17, 2018
http://foreignpolicy.com/2018/04/17/its-still-just-about-ok-to-be-gay-in-china/

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Chairman of China’s biggest bad-loan bank investigated for graft
Financial Times, April 18, 2018
https://www.ft.com/content/0ecf3c62-42ca-11e8-803a-295c97e6fd0b

Why Beijing’s plan to break up mysterious tycoon Xiao Jianhua’s business empire hit the buffers
South China Morning Post, April 18, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/economy/article/2142139/why-beijings-plan-break-mysterious-tycoons-business-empire-hit

“Do not marry for money”
Radio Free Asia, April 17, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/laos/bride-04172018135431.html

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

Mentally ill Chinese man “lost” for a year reunited with family thanks to facial recognition technology
South China Morning Post, April 17, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2142119/mentally-ill-chinese-man-lost-year-reunited-family-thanks-facial

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

Taiwan says Beijing “saber rattling” as China starts military drills
Reuters, April 18, 2018
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-taiwan-drills/taiwan-says-beijing-saber-rattling-as-china-starts-military-drills-idUSKBN1HP0DI

EU ambassadors band together against Silk Road
Handelsblatt, April 17, 2018
https://global.handelsblatt.com/politics/eu-ambassadors-beijing-china-silk-road-912258

China takes the lead in UN peacekeeping
The Diplomat, April 17, 2018
https://thediplomat.com/2018/04/china-takes-the-lead-in-un-peacekeeping/

Why is the US targeting China's Confucius Institute?
Deutsche Welle, April 16, 2018
http://www.dw.com/en/why-is-the-us-targeting-chinas-confucius-institute/a-43403188

Hong Kong (香港)

Mong Kok unrest: Localist Edward Leung tells court he held “election parade” to protect public from the police
Hong Kong Free Press, April 18, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/04/18/mong-kok-unrest-localist-edward-leung-tells-court-held-election-parade-protect-public-police/

Related:
Hong Kong localist Edward Leung “sorry” for assaulting police officers during Mong Kok unrest
South China Morning Post, April 18, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/2142247/hong-kong-localist-edward-leung-sorry-assaulting-police

British report warns Beijing is increasing pressure on Hong Kong’s basic rights and freedoms
South China Morning Post, April 18, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2142161/british-report-warns-beijing-increasing-pressure-hong-kongs

Related:
Overseas business risk - Hong Kong
Foreign & Commonwealth Office of United Kingdom, April 16, 2018
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/overseas-business-risk-hong-kong/overseas-business-risk-hong-kong

Activist Joshua Wong files legal challenge against Hong Kong Companies Registry for denying registration for his party
Hong Kong Free Press, April 18, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/04/18/activist-joshua-wong-files-legal-challenge-hong-kong-companies-registry-denying-registration-party/

Related:
Were “political considerations” behind rejection of Joshua Wong’s Hong Kong political party?
South China Morning Post, April 18, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2142158/were-political-considerations-behind-rejection-joshua-wongs

Hong Kong lawmakers fired in oath-taking row can keep their salaries, Legco body says
South China Morning Post, April 18, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2142250/hong-kong-lawmakers-fired-oath-taking-row-can-keep-their

Some pro-establishment camp members donated to campaign to investigate ex-leader CY Leung, says lawmaker
Hong Kong Free Press, April 17, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/04/17/pro-establishment-camp-members-donated-campaign-investigate-ex-leader-cy-leung-says-lawmaker/

Commentary (评论)

伸向歷史教科書的黑手 (Dark hands reach out to history textbooks)
Mingpao, April 18, 2018
https://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20180418/s00022/1523971916895

台灣年輕世代的政治態度民調：願為台灣而戰、支持民主、反對統一 (Survey on Taiwan youngsters’ political attitudes: “willing to go to war for Taiwan, support democracy, oppose unification”)
The Initium, April 17, 2018
https://theinitium.com/article/20180417-opinion-chenfangyu-taiwan-teenagers/

Angola: China’s risky gamble in Africa
China File, April 16, 2018
http://www.chinafile.com/library/china-africa-project/angola-chinas-risky-gamble-africa

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Families of Chinese activists face house arrest, harassment from “smiling tigers”
Reuters, April 16, 2018
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-rights/families-of-chinese-activists-face-house-arrest-harassment-from-smiling-tigers-idUSKBN1HN1BA

吴淦案二审将开庭 父亲徐孝顺被软禁 (Father put under house arrest as rights defender Wu Gan faces trial of second instance)
Radio Free Asia, April 16, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/yf2-04162018110017.html

甄江华的代理律师被通知遭解聘 (Lawyers of rights activist Zhen Jianghua told by police they are fired)
Radio Free Asia, April 16, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/yf1-04162018120449.html

最高检印发党组巡视工作5年规划：推动解决司法不公等问题 (Supreme People’s Procuratorate issues 5-year plan for system-wide inspection work , aims include “ensuring the Party's absolute leadership over procuratorial work”)
Supreme People's Procuratorate WeChat Public Account, April 16, 2018
https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_2078727

Related:
China to step up inspections of prosecutors
Xinhua News Agency, April 16, 2018
http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201804/16/WS5ad4bbf5a3105cdcf6518943.html

Access to Information (信息公开)

Why do Chinese citizens care so much about airstrikes on Syria this time?
The Diplomat, April 16, 2018
https://thediplomat.com/2018/04/why-do-chinese-citizens-care-so-much-about-airstrikes-on-syria-this-time/

接受社会监督，全国法院决胜“基本解决执行难”信息网上线 (Supreme People’s Court launches website to publish information on court decisions that are difficult to implement)
People’s Court Daily, April 14, 2018
https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_2075956