Access to Justice (司法公正)

A third update on lawyer Li Chunfu: He was drugged in custody
China Change, January 15, 2017
https://chinachange.org/2017/01/15/a-third-update-on-lawyer-li-chunfu-he-was-drugged-in-custody/

Related:
709 Lawyer Released on Bail in Psychological Distress
“709”被捕律师李春富取保候审，身心状况异常
Human Rights in China, January 13, 2017
EN: http://www.hrichina.org/en/press-work/hric-bulletin/709-lawyer-released-bail-psychological-distress
CH: http://www.hrichina.org/chs/xin-wen-gong-zuo/zhong-guo-ren-quan-jian-xun/709bei-bu-lu-shi-li-chun-fu-qu-bao-hou-shen-shen-xin

Chinese government thwarts effort to appeal the recent Wukan sentences
China Change, January 17, 2017
https://chinachange.org/2017/01/17/chinese-government-thwarts-effort-to-appeal-the-recent-wukan-sentences/

人权组织呼吁释放藏族活动人士：审判扎西文色就是审判中国宪法 (Rights group calls for release of Tibetan activist: Putting Tashi Wangchuk on trial means putting the Chinese Constitution on trial)
Voice of America, January 17, 2017
http://www.voachinese.com/a/hrw-calling-chian-drop-charges-tibetan-activist-20170116/3678608.html

Lawyers urge China’s top judge to quit over controversial comments against “Western” judicial independence
South China Morning Post, January 17, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2062829/lawyers-urge-chinas-top-judge-quit-over-controversial

Related:
“对司法独立亮剑"引发网民唇枪舌剑 (“To wield a sword against judicial independence” speech sparks heated online debate)
Deutsche Welle, January 17, 2017
http://www.dw.com/zh/对司法独立亮剑引发网民唇枪舌剑/ a-37145086

Access to Information (信息公开)

Chinese official fired after calling Mao “a devil”
Reuters, January 16, 2017
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-mao-idUSKBN151050

China ramps up control of domain names, adds new layer to Great Firewall
Radio Free Asia, January 16, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/internet-domain-01162017155356.html

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Ministry wants random inspections for China’s non-governmental organizations
South China Morning Post, January 16, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2062578/ministry-wants-random-inspections-chinas-non

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Tiananmen activist’s hands and feet shackled for extended periods in Chinese prison, lawyer says
Hong Kong Free Press, January 17, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/01/17/tiananmen-activists-hands-and-feet-shackled-for-extended-periods-in-chinese-prison-lawyer-says/

Hong Kong (香港)

Beijing approves resignation of John Tsang and Carrie Lam; chief exec. bids expected
Hong Kong Free Press, January 16, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/01/16/breaking-beijing-approves-resignation-of-john-tsang-and-carrie-lam-chief-exec-bids-expected/

Related:
A guide to the top contenders vying to be Hong Kong’s next chief executive
Quartz, January 17, 2017
https://qz.com/884690/a-guide-to-the-top-contenders-vying-to-be-hong-kongs-next-chief-executive/

Police make fifth arrest connected to assault of pro-democracy lawmaker Nathan Law at airport
Hong Kong Free Press, January 16, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/01/16/police-make-fifth-arrest-connected-to-assault-of-pro-democracy-lawmaker-nathan-law-at-airport/

戴耀廷推「民間投票」選特首 強調不綑綁選委 (Benny Tai launches “civil referendum” on the CE, stresses that the result would not bind the Election Committee)
Mingpao, January 16, 2017
http://news.mingpao.com/pns/dailynews/web_tc/article/20170116/s00002/1484503826065

林鄭指23條立法屬憲制責任　惟應審時度勢 (Carrie Lam says enactment of laws for Art. 23 is a constitutional responsibility, but gov’t should assess first)
Sing Tao Daily, January 16, 2017
http://std.stheadline.com/instant/articles/detail/318569-香港-【特首選戰】林鄭指23條立法屬憲制責任+惟應審時度勢

Commentary (评论)

Zhou Qiang on judicial independence, the separation of powers, and constitutional democracy
REACH, January 15, 2017
https://china-research.net/2017/01/15/zhou-qiang-jiang-ping-and-he-weifang-debate-judicial-independence-the-separation-of-powers-and-constitutional-democracy/

Related:
China’s Chief Justice’s extraordinary statement: The most enormous ideological setback for a professional judiciary
Jerry’s Blog, January 17, 2017
http://www.jeromecohen.net/jerrys-blog/chinas-chief-justices-extraordinary-statement

The People’s Court Daily on independent adjudication
REACH, January 16, 2017
https://china-research.net/2017/01/16/the-peoples-court-daily-on-independent-adjudication/

旗帜鲜明地维护和落实依法独立审判的宪法原则 (Taking a clear-cut stance on protecting and realizing the constitutional principle of independent adjudication)
People’s Court Daily, January 16, 2017
http://www.rmfyb.com/paper/html/2017-01/16/content_120886.htm?div=-1

《关于司法机关独立的基本原则》被联合国大会1985年第40/32号决议和40/146号决议认可。《关于司法机关独立的基本原则：实施程序》由联合国经济及社会理事会第1989/60号决议通过，成员国必须遵守。中国是联合国常任理事国有责任和义务在实施这些原则与制度方面采取行动和作出表率 https://t.co/efqop3V5zZ

— 刘晓原律师 (@liu_xiaoyuan) January 15, 2017

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Chinese lawyer held for more than 500 days in civil rights crackdown has mental disorder
South China Morning Post, January 14, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2062246/chinese-lawyer-held-more-500-days-civil-rights

Related:
中国维权律师李春富被释放后“精神失常” (Rights defense lawyer Li Chunfu suffers “mental disorder” after release)
British Broadcasting Corporation, January 14, 2017
http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/chinese-news-38624049

709 Lawyer Released on Bail in Psychological Distress
“709”被捕律师李春富取保候审，身心状况异常
Human Rights in China, January 13, 2017
EN: http://www.hrichina.org/en/press-work/hric-bulletin/709-lawyer-released-bail-psychological-distress
CH: http://www.hrichina.org/chs/xin-wen-gong-zuo/zhong-guo-ren-quan-jian-xun/709bei-bu-lu-shi-li-chun-fu-qu-bao-hou-shen-shen-xin

China's top judge warns courts on judicial independence
Reuters, January 15, 2017
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-policy-law-idUSKBN14Z07B

Related:
中国最高法院长周强公开拒绝“宪政民主”“司法独立”引热议 (President of SPC Zhou Qiang sparks heated debate after he publicly rejects “constitutional democracy” and “judicial independence”)
Radio Free Asia, January 15, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/yf2-01152017103002.html

扎实做好人民法院各项工作 以优异成绩迎接党的十九大胜利召开 (Solid performance by courts, welcoming the Party’s victorious opening of the 19th National Congress with outstanding achievements)
China Court Daily, January 14, 2017
http://www.chinacourt.org/article/detail/2017/01/id/2512789.shtml

决不落入西方错误思潮“陷阱” (Never fall into the “trap” of western erroneous ideologies)
China Court Daily, January 15, 2017
http://www.chinacourt.org/article/detail/2017/01/id/2512848.shtml

How nine Wukan villagers were illegally tried and sentenced after rising up against corruption
China Change, January 14, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/01/14/how-nine-wukan-villagers-were-illegally-tried-and-sentenced-after-rising-up-against-corruption/

Access to Information (信息公开)

Clearing the air
China Media Project, January 13, 2017
http://cmp.hku.hk/2017/01/13/40112/

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

China's Zhou Youguang, father of Pinyin writing system, dies aged 111
The New York Times, January 14, 2017
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/14/world/asia/zhou-youguang-who-made-writing-chinese-as-simple-as-abc-dies-at-111.html

China fears sovereignty rows with neighbors may spark “patriotic” protests at home
South China Morning Post, January 13, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2061884/china-fears-sovereignty-rows-neighbours-may-spark

Government Accountability (政府问责)

China's president calls on law enforcement to protect party rule
Radio Free Asia, January 13, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/rule-01132017135358.html

Hong Kong (香港)

Localist duo’s final appeal over oath row rejected
Hong Kong Free Press, January 16, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/01/16/breaking-localist-duos-final-appeal-oath-row-rejected/

Related:
上訴庭駁回梁頌恆游蕙禎上訴至終院申請　兩人須付政府訟費 (Court of Appeal rejects Sixtus "Baggio" Leung and Yau Wai Ching’s appeal application to Court of Final Appeal, they must pay gov’t legal costs)
Mingpao, January 16, 2017
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20170116/s00001/1484530354145

Activist Joshua Wong returns safely to Hong Kong after Taiwan visit marred by multiple protests
South China Morning Post, January 16, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2062444/activist-joshua-wong-returns-safely-hong-kong-after-taiwan

Controversy follows election for Hong Kong leaders
Voice of America, January 13, 2017
http://www.voanews.com/a/controversy-follows-election-for-hong-kong-leaders/3674785.html

Related:
Hong Kong’s Chief Executive race heats up
The Diplomat, January 13, 2017
http://thediplomat.com/2017/01/hong-kongs-chief-executive-race-heats-up/

Beijing wants to crush youth activists in Taiwan and Hong Kong trying to band together
Quartz, January 16, 2017
https://qz.com/883640/beijing-wants-to-crush-youth-activists-in-taiwan-and-hong-kong-trying-to-band-together/

Commentary (评论)

Xiaolu Guo: “There was no private or personal space in China”
The Guardian, January 15, 2017
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/jan/15/xiaolu-guo-meet-the-author-once-upon-a-time-in-the-east

雾霾与中国人觉醒的“公民性” (Smog and the awakening of Chinese “citizenship”)
Financial Times, January 16, 2017
http://www.ftchinese.com/story/001070990

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Death in custody: a Chinese scandal that will not die
The Economist, January 14, 2017
http://www.economist.com/news/china/21714389-public-resentment-police-brutality-growing-death-custody-chinese-scandal-will

Access to Information (信息公开)

Prominent Chinese university bans staff from criticizing Communist Party in class
South China Morning Post, January 12, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2061491/chinese-university-bans-staff-criticising-communist

空气检测APP发布真实污染数据受中国政府警告 (Air monitoring app puts Chinese gov’t on defensive over pollution data)
Voice of America, January 13, 2017
http://www.voachinese.com/a/china-orders-air-monitoring-app-20170112/3674597.html

Related:
Seeking transparency in Chinese pollution data
China Digital Times, January 11, 2017
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2017/01/seeking-transparency-chinese-pollution-data/

维权律师被警告不得赴香港观看709纪录片 (Rights defense lawyers warned against traveling to Hong Kong to watch documentary on “709”)
Radio Free Asia, January 12, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/ql2-01122017102556.html

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Ten held, dozens injured after clashes in China's Shenzhen
Radio Free Asia, January 12, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/shenzhen-clash-01122017142758.html

穗大學禁非議中共及憲法 (University in Guangzhou bans criticism of CPC and Constitution)
Ming Pao, January 13, 2017
http://news.mingpao.com/pns/dailynews/web_tc/article/20170113/s00013/1484243743971

Government Accountability (政府问责)

China's top political advisory body pledges continuous anti-graft campaign
Xinhua, January 12, 2017
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-01/12/c_135974594.htm

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

习近平对政法工作作出重要指示 强调全面提升防范应对各类风险挑战的水平 (Xi Jinping emphasizes that political and legal work must include overall improvement in the ability to prevent and respond to various types of risk and challenges)
China Central Television, January 12, 2016
http://tv.cctv.com/2017/01/12/VIDEVVliAmiesRZYy6i8IUvC170112.shtml

Xinjiang town orders residents to engrave names and ID numbers on to all knives, including kitchen tools
Hong Kong Free Press, January 12, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/01/12/xinjiang-town-orders-residents-engrave-names-id-numbers-knives-including-kitchen-tools/

Will China now boost Malaysia’s new counterterrorism center?
The Diplomat, January 13, 2017
http://thediplomat.com/2017/01/will-china-now-boost-malaysias-new-counterterrorism-center/

Hong Kong (香港)

The only reason for my resignation is to run for Chief Executive, says Hong Kong Chief Sec. Carrie Lam
Hong Kong Free Press, January 12, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/01/12/the-only-reason-for-my-resignation-is-to-run-for-chief-executive-says-chief-sec-carrie-lam/

More activists arrested for allegedly participating in November protest at Liaison Office
Hong Kong Free Press, January 12, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/01/12/activists-arrested-allegedly-participating-november-protest-liaison-office/

Commentary (评论)

打好新形势下维稳主动仗（深入学习贯彻习近平同志系列重要讲话精神） (Fight a good offensive battle of stability maintenance under new circumstances: absorb and practice essence of Xi Jinping’s important speeches)
People’s Daily, January 13, 2017
http://politics.people.com.cn/n1/2017/0113/c1001-29019665.html

不再欽點 是中央對港人最起碼的尊重 (Stop appointing the CE is the minimum respect Central gov’t could pay to Hong Kong people)
Ming Pao, January 13, 2017
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20170113/s00022/1484269830961

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Hangzhou pastor who opposed cross removal arrested for embezzlement again
Hong Kong Free Press, January 11, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/01/11/hangzhou-pastor-opposed-cross-removal-arrested-embezzlement/