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.

Monday, January 23, 2017

Access to Justice (司法公正)

处境危险律师国际观察站关注中国律师 (“L’Observatoire international des avocats en danger” pays close attention to Chinese lawyers)
Radio France Internationale, January 22, 2017
http://cn.rfi.fr/中国/20170122-处境危险律师国际观察站今年关注中国律师

“Your only right is to obey”: lawyer describes torture in China's secret jails
The Guardian, January 23, 2017
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/23/lawyer-torture-china-secret-jails-xie-yang

Related:
Scores of Chinese lawyers rally around colleague who claims he was tortured during crackdown
South China Morning Post, January 21, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2064227/scores-chinese-lawyers-rally-around-colleague-who

谢阳反告10名国保施酷刑 (Xie Yang brings torture claims against 10 Domestic Security officers)
Radio France Internationale, January 21, 2017
http://cn.rfi.fr/中国/20170121-谢阳反告10名国保施酷刑

Chinese human rights lawyers set their sights on smog
Agence France-Presse, January 23, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/01/23/chinese-human-rights-lawyers-set-sights-smog/

中国敢言律师告当局治理污染不利 (Chinese outspoken lawyer sues the authority for incompetence in controlling pollution)
Radio France Internationale, January 21, 2017
http://cn.rfi.fr/中国/20170121-中国敢言律师告当局治理污染不利

A broken lawyer and a hawkish judge cast deep pall over China’s legal system
The Washington Post, January 20, 2017
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/a-tortured-broken-lawyer-and-a-hawkish-judge-cast-deep-pall-over-chinas-legal-system/2017/01/20/1daf0ff6-dd62-11e6-b2cf-b67fe3285cbc_story.html

Access to Information (信息公开)

Historian’s latest book on Mao turns acclaim in China to censure
The New York Times, January 21, 2017
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/21/world/asia/china-historian-yang-jisheng-book-mao.html

Beijing Internet censors close websites of liberal economic think tank
South China Morning Post, January 21, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2064260/beijing-internet-censors-close-websites-liberal

China cracks down on Mao critics
Financial Times, January 22, 2017
https://www.ft.com/content/321d2330-e053-11e6-9645-c9357a75844a

Related:
北京关闭17家网站 茅于轼微博账号被封 (Beijing closes down 17 websites, Mao Yushi’s Weibo account also suspended)
Radio Free Asia, January 22, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/meiti/yf1-01222017100533.html

Ministry of Truth: No independent reporting of Trump’s inauguration
China Digital Times, January 20, 2017
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2017/01/ministry-truth-no-independent-reporting-trumps-inauguration/

How China tightened its grip on the media during 2016, by IFJ
The Guardian, January 20, 2017
https://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2017/jan/20/how-china-tightened-its-grip-on-the-media-during-2016-by-ifj

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

First batch of overseas NGOs register under China’s new law
Sixth Tone, January 20, 2017
http://www.sixthtone.com/news/first-batch-overseas-ngos-register-under-china%E2%80%99s-new-law

聲援佔中 詩人年關遭逼遷 (Poets evicted at the end of year for supporting Occupy Central movement)
Mingpao, January 23, 2017
http://news.mingpao.com/pns/dailynews/web_tc/article/20170123/s00013/1485108572994

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Communist Party puts graft interrogators on tighter leash
South China Morning Post, January 21, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2064071/communist-party-puts-graft-interrogators-tighter-leash

Punches, kicks and the “dangling chair’: Detainee tells of torture in China
The New York Times, January 20, 2017
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/20/world/asia/china-lawyer-torture-xie-yang.html

Doctors and red envelopes: How corruption has blighted China’s public health system
Caixin, January 20, 2017
http://www.caixinglobal.com/2017-01-20/101047316.html

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

China tightens Great Firewall by declaring unauthorized VPN services illegal
South China Morning Post, January 23, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2064587/chinas-move-clean-vpns-and-strengthen-great-firewall

Related:
中国正式“清算”VPN (China “cleans up” VPN services officially)
Deutsche Welle, January 22, 2017
http://www.dw.com/zh/中国正式清算vpn/ a-37231959

工业和信息化部关于清理规范互联网网络接入服务市场的通知 (Ministry of Industry and Information Technology Notice Regarding Clearance and Regulation of VPN Services)
Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, January 17, 2017
http://www.miit.gov.cn/n1146295/n1652858/n1652930/n3757020/c5471946/content.html

Hong Kong (香港)

Why China's supporters in Hong Kong are divided
The Diplomat, January 20, 2017
http://thediplomat.com/2017/01/why-chinas-supporters-in-hong-kong-are-divided/

曾鈺成:接受反對派「推倒8‧31」要求沒可能當選 (Jasper Tsang: Those who accept the opposition’s demand to “overturn August 31 Decision” will never be elected)
Mingpao, January 23, 2017
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20170123/s00001/1485129525079

暗示对手不被北京接受? 林郑陷"失言"风波 (Hinting that her opponents aren’t accepted by Beijing? Carrie Lam caught in “gaffe” scandal)
Deutsche Welle, January 22, 2017
http://www.dw.com/zh/暗示对手不被北京接受林郑陷失言风波/a-37232533

民主動力倡計劃予市民向選委推薦特首人選 被提名人士需符3項條件 (Power for Democracy launches campaign for general public to nominate CE candidate, nominee should meet 3 requirements)
Mingpao, January 22, 2017
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20170122/s00001/1485091982994

香港维园年宵 支联会设六四展馆 呼吁勿忘历实 (Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China sets up mini June-Fourth museum in Lunar new year market, advocates to never forget historical truth)
Radio Free Asia, January 22, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/zhengzhi/yf2-01222017101638.html

逾百議員、選委及學者等聯署要求撤消對4議員司法覆核 (Over 100 scholars, Legco and Election Committee members petition for gov’t to drop judicial review cases against 4 Legco members)
Radio Television Hong Kong, January 21, 2017
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1309099-20170121.htm

Commentary (评论)

Codifying illegality? The case of Jiang Tianyong
China Law and Policy, January 20, 2017
http://chinalawandpolicy.com/2017/01/20/codifying-illegality-the-case-of-jiang-tianyong/

The real secret of Chinese Internet censorship? Distraction
The Guardian, January 22, 2017
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jan/22/chinese-internet-censorship-uses-distraction

Friday, January 20, 2017

Access to Justice (司法公正)

中国法律人敦促周强引咎辞职 (Chinese legal profession urges Zhou Qiang to resign)
Deutsche Welle, January 19, 2017
http://www.dw.com/zh/中国法律人敦促周强引咎辞职/a-37189971

Related:
中国知识界联署要求最高院周强“走人” (Intellects in China petition to demand President of SPC Zhou Qiang to “leave”)
Voice of America, January 20, 2017
http://www.voachinese.com/a/news-china-scholars-demand--resignation-20170119/3682745.html

四位旅美前中国法律界人士谴责周强抵制司法独立的言论违法违宪要求人大撤销其职务 (4 U.S.-residing former Chinese legal professionals criticize Zhou Qiang for speech rejecting judicial independence, demand his dismissal from CPC)
Radio Free Asia, January 19, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/ck-01192017100729.html

“709案”谢燕益回家仍有8人被羁押 谢阳拒绝当局“放人条件” (“709 case”: Xie Yanyi returns home while 8 people still detained, Xie Yang refuses the authorities’ “conditions for release” )
Radio Free Asia, January 19, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/xl1-01192017103426.html

Related:
Transcript of Interviews with Lawyer Xie Yang (1)
China Change, January 19, 2017
https://chinachange.org/2017/01/19/transcript-of-interviews-with-lawyer-xie-yang-1/

Authorities Deny Lawyers’ Access to Xie Yang and His Case File
“709”案谢阳律师被违法阻止律师会见和阅卷
Human Rights in China, October 21, 2016
EN: http://www.hrichina.org/en/citizens-square/authorities-deny-lawyers-access-xie-yang-and-his-case-file
CH: http://www.hrichina.org/chs/gong-min-yan-chang/709an-xie-yang-lu-shi-bei-wei-fa-zu-zhi-lu-shi-hui-jian-he-yue-juan

Rights groups ask China to free Tibetan education advocate
人权组织呼吁释放藏语教育倡导者扎西文色
The New York Times, January 20, 2017
EN: http://cn.nytimes.com/china/20170120/china-tibetan-education-advocate/en-us/
CH: http://cn.nytimes.com/china/20170120/china-tibetan-education-advocate/

Wife of detained Chinese rights lawyer seeks Angela Merkel’s help
被监禁的人权律师江天勇妻子向默克尔求助
The New York Times, January 19, 2017
EN: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/19/world/asia/china-lawyer-jiang-tianyong-germany.html
CH: http://cn.nytimes.com/china/20170120/china-lawyer-jiang-tianyong-germany/

Access to Information (信息公开)

What’s behind China’s mass fabrication of official figures?
Caixin, January 19, 2017
http://www.caixinglobal.com/2017-01-19/101046909.html

China orders state media not to criticize Trump ahead of inauguration
Radio Free Asia, January 19, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/media-trump-01192017163646.html

Related:
Ministry of Truth: Handle Trump carefully
China Digital Times, January 18, 2017
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2017/01/minitrue-handle-trump-carefully/

Commentary by Gao Wenqian: Human Rights and the U.S.-China Diplomatic Chessboard
高文谦:中美外交棋局与人权
Human Rights in China, January 19, 2017
EN: http://www.hrichina.org/en/china-rights-forum/commentary-gao-wenqian-human-rights-and-us-china-diplomatic-chessboard
CH: http://www.hrichina.org/chs/zhong-guo-ren-quan-shuang-zhou-kan/gao-wen-qian-zhong-mei-wai-jiao-qi-ju-yu-ren-quan

China’s official 2016 GDP number is in, and the government promises it’s “authentic”
Quartz, January 20, 2017
https://qz.com/890084/chinas-official-2016-gdp-growth-was-6-7-and-the-government-promises-its-authentic/

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Chinese migrant workers protest over unpaid wages
Voice of America, January 19, 2017
http://www.voanews.com/a/chinese-migrant-workers-protest-unpaid-wages/3682577.html

Government Accountability (政府问责)

China to launch graft-busting super bureau next year
South China Morning Post, January 20, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2063690/china-launch-graft-busting-super-bureau-next-year

China asks foreign diplomats for closer cooperation in anti-graft war
Reuters, January 19, 2017
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-corruption-idUSKBN1540AL

China jails former senior oil executive for 15 years for graft
Reuters, January 19, 2017
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-corruption-cnpc-idUSKBN1530TY

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

Evaluating the U.S.-China cybersecurity agreement, Part 1: The U.S. approach to cyberspace
The Diplomat, January 19, 2017
http://thediplomat.com/2017/01/evaluating-the-us-china-cybersecurity-agreement-part-1-the-us-approach-to-cyberspace/

Related:
Evaluating the U.S.-China cybersecurity agreement, Part 2: China’s take on cyberspace and cybersecurity
The Diplomat, January 19, 2017
http://thediplomat.com/2017/01/evaluating-the-us-china-cybersecurity-agreement-part-2-chinas-take-on-cyberspace-and-cybersecurity/

Hong Kong (香港)

United States Congress set to introduce Hong Kong human rights act “in coming days”
South China Morning Post, January 20, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2062798/will-hong-kongs-pro-democracy-camp-find-ally-trump

Video: There is absolutely no room for Hong Kong independence, C.Y. Leung warns
Hong Kong Free Press, January 18, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/01/18/video-absolutely-no-room-hong-kong-independence-cy-leung-warns/

Hong Kong's localist revolutionaries
Al Jazeera, January 19, 2017
http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/peopleandpower/2017/01/hong-kong-localist-revolutionaries-170118060422170.html

Hong Kong’s democrats say no to China’s treasures
The Economist, January 21, 2017
http://www.economist.com/news/china/21715042-worlds-most-popular-museum-political-too-hong-kongs-democrats-say-no-chinas-treasures

Why China's supporters in Hong Kong are divided
The Diplomat, January 20, 2017
http://thediplomat.com/2017/01/why-chinas-supporters-in-hong-kong-are-divided/

曾俊華:人大8.31是基礎 若氛圍與2014年相似不會重推政改 (John Tsang: CPC’s August 31 decision is a foundation, I will not push for political reform again if atmosphere is similar to that in 2014)
Mingpao, January 20, 2017
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20170120/s00001/1484873862833

終止青政民族黨年宵租約 高永文稱為市民安全被迫下決定 (Ko Wing-man says he had no choice but to ban stalls of Youngspiration and National Party for the sake of public safety)
Mingpao, January 20, 2017
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20170119/s00001/1484821546254

Commentary (评论)

Is Xi Jinping the new champion of globalization? Far from it.
The Washington Post, January 18, 2017
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/global-opinions/is-xi-jinping-the-new-champion-of-globalization-far-from-it/2017/01/18/ecfda27a-dda0-11e6-acdf-14da832ae861_story.html

Thursday, January 19, 2017

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Chinese human rights lawyer Xie Yanyi reunited with family after 18 months in detention
Hong Kong Free Press, January 19, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/01/19/chinese-human-rights-lawyer-xie-yanyi-reunited-family-18-months-detention/

Related:
Mass Crackdown on Chinese Lawyers and Defenders
中国大规模镇压维权律师和活跃人士
Human Rights in China, June 10, 2016
EN: http://www.hrichina.org/en/mass-crackdown-chinese-lawyers-and-defenders
CH: http://hrichina.org/chs/zhong-guo-da-gui-mo-zhen-ya-wei-quan-lu-shi-he-huo-yue-ren-shi

律师再申请会见江天勇 要求检察院监督案件 (Lawyers apply again to meet Jiang Tianyong, demand Procuratorate supervise the case)
Radio Free Asia, January 19, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/yf2-01182017104900.html

Related:
Statement by Lawyers Tan Chenshou and Chen Jinxue on Jiang Tianyong’s Case
覃臣寿、陈进学关于江天勇案的律师声明
Human Rights in China, December 16, 2016
EN: http://www.hrichina.org/en/citizens-square/statement-lawyers-tan-chenshou-and-chen-jinxue-jiang-tianyongs-case
CH: http://www.hrichina.org/chs/gong-min-yan-chang/tan-chen-shou-chen-jin-xue-guan-yu-jiang-tian-yong-de-lu-shi-sheng-ming

中国最高人民法院院长驳斥司法独立 (President of SPC refutes judicial independence)
Financial Times, January 19, 2017
http://www.ftchinese.com/story/001071044

Access to Information (信息公开)

国家网信办深入整治“标题党”问题 (Cyberspace Administration of China punishes news websites for “clickbait” titles)
Cyberspace Administration of China, January 13, 2017
http://www.cac.gov.cn/2017-01/13/c_1120302910.htm

Related:
整治标题党是互联网新闻法治化的重要举措 (Regulation of “clickbait” titles is an important measure towards regulation of Internet news)
Legal Daily, January 17, 2017
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/commentary/content/2017-01/17/content_6962684.htm

Liaoning government admits false growth data from 2011-14
Caixin, January 18, 2017
http://www.caixinglobal.com/2017-01-18/101046468.html

Related:
辽宁省长陈求发:我们顶着压力挤压数据造假的水分 (Governor of Liaoning Province Chen Qiufa: We have suppressed the excessive fabrication of financial data)
People’s Daily, January 17, 2016
http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2017/01-17/8127221.shtml

中国气象局暂停发布霾预警 引发舆论热议 (China Meteorological Administration sparks heated debate as it stops smog alerts)
Radio Free Asia, January 18, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/huanjing/yf1-01182017104816.html

Related:
新京报快评: 谁来发布雾霾预警,不要扯皮 (The Beijing News Quick Commentary: Who is responsible for smog alerts, stop wrangling)
The Beijing News, January 18, 2017
http://www.bjnews.com.cn/opinion/2017/01/18/431090.html

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Family of reformist leader Zhao Ziyang vows to keep pressing for his exoneration
South China Morning Post, January 18, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/2063170/family-reformist-leader-zhao-ziyang-vows-keep-pressing-his-exoneration

Related:
趙紫陽逝世12年 女冀平反 杜導正親悼 高瑜丁子霖遭禁足 (On 12th anniversary of Zhao Ziyang’s death his daughter hopes for redress, Du Daozheng joins mourning while Gao Yu and Ding Ziling are banned)
Mingpao, January 18, 2017
http://news.mingpao.com/pns/dailynews/web_tc/article/20170118/s00013/1484675828270

全国首批6家境外非政府组织驻沪代表机构在上海获颁登记书 (Six foreign NGOs’ Shanghai offices granted nation’s first batch of registration certificates under Foreign NGO Management Law)
Shanghai Observer, January 17, 2017
http://www.shobserver.com/news/detail?id=42540

On taking gay rights from Taipei to Beijing: Don’t call it a “movement”
The New York Times, January 18, 2017
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/18/world/asia/china-taiwan-same-sex-gay.html

Chinese feminist “Hooligan Sparrow” faces eviction by Beijing authorities
Radio Free Asia, January 18, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/feminist-eviction-01182017123114.html

14类职业人员将建个人信用记录 (14 types of professionals will be given individual social credit rating record)
People’s Daily, January 19, 2017
http://politics.people.com.cn/n1/2017/0119/c1001-29035345.html

Government Accountability (政府问责)

China’s top prosecutor takes aim at corrupt village officials over rural land grabs
Caixin, January 16, 2017
http://www.caixinglobal.com/2017-01-16/101044470.html

Hong Kong (香港)

Unsolved problems hang over Hong Kong leader's last policy address
Reuters, January 18, 2017
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-politics-idUSKBN1520CD

梁振英冀民主派推願接受基本法規定者參選特首選舉 (C.Y. Leung hopes pro-democracy camp will nominate candidates who accept the restrictions under the Basic Law)
Radio Television Hong Kong, January 19, 2017
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1308593-20170119.htm

John Tsang formally declares bid to lead Hong Kong and vows to “restore hope to city in time of great uncertainty”
South China Morning Post, January 19, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2063523/john-tsang-officially-announce-chief-executive-bid-despite

Related:
曾俊華:決定競逐下屆行政長官 (John Tsang: I have decided to run for the next CE)
Radio Television Hong Kong, January 19, 2017
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1308678-20170119.htm

曾鈺成指京若2047取消一國兩制未違承諾 視乎國家利益定奪 (Jasper Tsang: It’s not a broken promise if Beijing cancels One Country Two Systems in 2047, it must depend on the national interest)
Mingpao, January 19, 2017
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20170119/s00001/1484785952077

香港民族黨及青年新政年宵攤檔 遭食環署終止租約 稱「可能危害公共秩序」(FEHD banned stalls of Hong Kong National Party and Youngspiration at Lunar New Year’s fair, stating that they “may endanger public order”)
Mingpao, January 19, 2017
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20170118/s00001/1484753078342

Commentary (评论)

【給特首參選人的試卷】新特首能否進退有度護「兩制」? (An exam paper for CE candidates: Could the new CE protect “Two Systems” with the right strategy?)
Mingpao, January 19, 2017
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20170119/s00022/1484792075088