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 17, 2017

Access to Justice (司法公正)

两会结束 维权人士李碧云继续遭稳控 (Rights defender Li Biyun still subjected to “stability control” after Two Congresses end)
Radio Free Asia, March 16, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/zhengzhi/yf1-03162017103006.html

Relatives of Qin Yongmin's “disappeared” wife in legal appeal
Radio Free Asia, March 16, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/dissident-wife-03162017132242.html

China finally starts to write a proper civil code
The Economist, May 16, 2017
http://www.economist.com/news/china/21718878-party-will-remain-final-judge-china-finally-starts-write-proper-civil-code

Access to Information (信息公开)

Photo-sharing website Pinterest blocked in China, according to censorship watchdogs
Hong Kong Free Press, March 17, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/03/17/photo-sharing-website-pinterest-blocked-china-according-censorship-watchdogs/

Related:
图片社交网站拼趣Pinterest在中国被封 (Photo sharing website Pinterest blocked in China)
Voice of America, March 17, 2017
http://www.voachinese.com/a/China-added-Pinterest-to-its-blocked-by-the-Great-Firewall-board-20170316/3769109.html

Children’s books and China’s crackdown on Western ideology
The New Yorker, March 16, 2017
http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/childrens-books-and-chinas-crackdown-on-western-ideology

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

国际组织在联合国人权理事会上公开呼吁中国保障人权 (International group openly urges China to safeguard human rights at United Nation Human Rights Council)
Radio Free Asia, March 16, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/xl1-03162017105530.html

As China's coal mines close, miners are becoming bolder in voicing demands
National Public Radio, March 14, 2017
http://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2017/03/14/519621699/as-chinas-coal-mines-close-miners-are-becoming-bolder-in-voicing-demands

China's rebel village still under close surveillance, cut off from world
Radio Free Asia, March 16, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/wukan-lockdown-03162017140431.html

China's urbancide in Tibet
The Diplomat, March 17, 2017
http://thediplomat.com/2017/03/chinas-urbancide-in-tibet/

Hong Kong (香港)

曾俊華:基本法寫明中央駐港機構角色 冀大家遵守法律 (John Tsang: Basic Law clearly stipulates role of Central gov’t organ in Hong Kong, everyone should abide by the law)
Radio Television Hong Kong, March 17, 2017
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1319617-20170316.htm

Court of Final Appeal to consider application of ousted Hong Kong lawmakers in August
Hong Kong Free Press, March 16, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/03/16/court-final-appeal-consider-application-ousted-hong-kong-lawmakers-august/

Commentary (评论)

仇恨教育只会毁掉年轻一代 (“Hatred education” would only destroy the young generation)
Financial Times, March 17, 2017
http://www.ftchinese.com/story/001071806

Symbolic dissenting votes of China’s National People’s Congress
Jerry's Blog, March 17, 2017
http://www.jeromecohen.net/jerrys-blog/symbolic-dissenting-votes-of-npc

Thursday, March 16, 2017

Access to Justice (司法公正)

China pushes legal overhaul that would bolster state power
习近平重提制定民法典,欲重塑中国司法制度
The New York Times, March 15, 2017
EN: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/15/world/asia/xi-jinping-legal-overhaul.html
CH: http://cn.nytimes.com/china/20170316/xi-jinping-legal-overhaul/

Related:
《民法總則》10月1日起實行 (“General Provisions of the Civil Code” takes effect on October 1)
Mingpao, March 16, 2017
http://news.mingpao.com/pns/dailynews/web_tc/article/20170316/s00013/1489602915605

山西维权人士吕动力被禁出境 徐秦过境香港受阻 (Shanxi rights defender Lu Dongli forbidden to leave country for joining “709”, Xu Qin prevented from transit through Hong Kong)
Radio Free Asia, March 15, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/yf1-03152017102225.html

Former Chinese judge jailed over alleged “ethnic hatred,” porn on phone
新疆前法官涉“煽动民族仇恨”遭刑拘
Radio Free Asia, March 15, 2017
EN: http://www.rfa.org/english/news/uyghur/judge-03152017120944.html
CH: http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shaoshuminzu/ql2-03152017101912.html

Access to Information (信息公开)

China's annual parliament ends amid “tightest Internet controls yet”
Radio Free Asia, March 15, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/controls-03152017123056.html

两会提案中有哪些“奇葩”和“禁果” (What sensitive topics were mentioned in Two Congresses?)
Deutsche Welle, March 15, 2017
http://www.dw.com/zh/两会提案中有哪些奇葩和禁果/a-37943421

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Token dissent plummets in China as comrade Xi's power grows
Bloomberg News, March 16, 2017
https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2017-03-15/token-dissent-plummets-in-china-as-comrade-xi-s-power-increases

如中国严控空气质量每年可少三百万人早亡 (Three million premature deaths could be avoided if China takes air pollution control seriously)
British Broadcasting Corporation, March 16, 2017
http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/chinese-news-39285272

港澳人大选举不得接受外国资助 防干预 维国安 (No foreign sponsors allowed in election of Hong Kong and Macau representatives to NPC to prevent intervention and maintain national security)
Radio France Internationale, March 15, 2017
http://cn.rfi.fr/政治/20170315-港澳人大选举不得接受外国资助-防干预-维国安

Hong Kong (香港)

陳文敏:香港已履行23條立法責任 (Johannes Chan: Hong Kong has fulfilled its constitutional responsibility to enact laws for Art. 23)
InmediaHK, March 15, 2017
http://www.inmediahk.net/node/1048240

香港原立法会主席曾钰成爆料 参选特首计划遭北京劝退 (Hong Kong former Legco chairman Jasper Tsang said Bejing talked him out of joining CE election)
Radio Free Asia, March 15, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/gangtai/wsw-03152017102504.html

Related:
Beijing discouraged me from entering leadership race, says ex-LegCo president Jasper Tsang
Hong Kong Free Press, March 15, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/03/15/beijing-discouraged-me-from-entering-leadership-race-says-ex-legco-president-jasper-tsang/

China’s “two sessions” delegates surprisingly outspoken on Hong Kong matters
South China Morning Post, March 16, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2079391/chinas-two-sessions-delegates-surprisingly-outspoken

Three Hong Kong protesters become first to be convicted of rioting during Mong Kok clashes
South China Morning Post, March 16, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/2079412/three-hong-kong-protesters-become-first-be-convicted

Commentary (评论)

Xinjiang’s rapidly evolving security state
The Jamestown Foundation, March 14, 2017
https://jamestown.org/program/xinjiangs-rapidly-evolving-security-state/

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Access to Justice (司法公正)

政协 “濒危” 敢言委员批两高报告避讲法治 (“Endangered” outspoken members of CPPCC criticize annual work report of SPC and SPP for avoiding rule of law questions)
Voice of America, March 15, 2017
http://www.voachinese.com/a/a-few-CPPCC-members-dare-to-speak-their-minds-20170314/3765138.html

Detained Chinese feminist wins new human rights honor
“煽颠”指控 苏昌兰获第三届“曹顺利捍卫者纪念奖”
Radio Free Asia, March 14, 2017
EN: http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/award-suchanglan-03142017142054.html
CH: http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/xl1-03142017103036.html

Rights activists denounce achievements touted by top China judge
Voice of America, March 14, 2017
http://www.voanews.com/a/right-activists-denounce-achievements-touted-by-top-china-judge/3764885.html

Access to Information (信息公开)

China’s censors briefly lift veil on film review process
China Film Insider, March 14, 2017
https://www.nchrd.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/annual-report.pdf

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

『夹边沟祭事』受访者遭骚扰 艾晓明呼吁不要害怕 (Interviewee in Ai Xiaoming’s documentary “Jiabiangou Elegy” harassed, Ai Xiaoming says do not be scared)
Radio France Internationale, March 14, 2017
http://cn.rfi.fr/中国/20170314-『夹边沟祭事』受访者遭骚扰-艾晓明呼吁不要害怕"

Government Accountability (政府问责)

陳光誠:用新法案敦促美國制裁中國的「人權惡棍」(Civil rights activist Chen Guangcheng: New legal bill should be used to urge U.S. to sanction China for its human rights violations)
New York Times, March 15, 2017
http://cn.nytimes.com/china/20170314/chen-guangcheng/zh-hant/

China's Panchen Lama calls for patriotism, says greed taints Tibetan Buddhism
Reuters, March 14, 2017
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-parliament-tibet-idUSKBN16L0G6

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

China's Xinjiang offers leniency for “terrorists” who turn themselves in
Reuters, March 14, 2017
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-xinjiang-idUSKBN16L1HC

Hong Kong (香港)

七成港人反对京官钦点 望重启政改 (70% of Hong Kong people oppose appointment by Beijing official and hope to reopen political reform)
Radio France Internationale, March 14, 2017
http://cn.rfi.fr/中国/20170314-七成港人反对京官钦点-望重启政改

如何處理港獨? 林鄭月娥:如上任加強與內地關係 (How to handle Hong Kong independence? Carrie Lam: Strengthen relationship with the mainland like predecessor)
Mingpao, March 14, 2017
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20170314/s00001/1489494984366

Related:
梁振英評分跌至39.4分 民望淨值上任新低 陳茂波民望淨值急跌近三成 (C.Y. Leung’s net approval rating hits new low since taking office, lowered to 39.4%, approval rating for Paul Chan decreases for 30%)
Mingpao, March 14, 2017
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20170314/s00001/1489479470716

Which comes first, “one country” or “two systems”? Both, Premier Li Keqiang says, pledging Beijing’s support for Hong Kong
South China Morning Post, March 15, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2079043/one-country-or-two-systems-both-premier-li-keqiang-says

Hong Kong leadership rivals lock horns in TV debate
Hong Kong Free Press, March 15, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/03/15/hong-kong-leadership-rivals-lock-horns-in-tv-debate/

Activist Joshua Wong hopeful democracy will win in HK
British Broadcasting Corporation, March 14, 2017
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-39271983

Commentary (评论)

China attempts economic globalization without human rights
China Law and Policy, March 14, 2017
http://chinalawandpolicy.com/2017/03/14/china-attempts-economic-globalization-without-human-rights/

Related:
“They target my human rights work as a crime”: Annual report on the situation of human rights defenders in China (2016)
Chinese Human Rights Defenders, February 16, 2017
https://www.nchrd.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/annual-report.pdf

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Access to Justice (司法公正)

两会直击: 两高借709案聂树斌案表功不提雷洋 (Two Congresses: SPC and SPP take credit for “709” case and Nie Shubin’s case, Lei Yang’s case not mentioned)
Voice of America, March 14, 2017
http://www.voachinese.com/a/lianghui-20170312/3762291.html

Farmer at center of “stability maintenance” expenses row beaten unconscious
Radio Free Asia, March 13, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/beaten-03132017133231.html

Access to Information (信息公开)

两会代表谈封网 进出困境难商量 (Representative from Two Congresses talks about Internet control: It is hard for foreign and local businesses to enter and leave the Chinese market and there is little room for negotiation)
Deutsche Welle, March 13, 2017
http://www.dw.com/zh/两会代表谈封网-进出困境难商量/a-37918496

Related:
China’s Internet censorship under fire—but proposal against controls gets ... censored
South China Morning Post, March 13, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2078350/chinas-internet-censorship-under-fire-two-sessions

China’s “Great Wall”: Conquering the world with cinema
The Diplomat, March 13, 2017
http://thediplomat.com/2017/03/chinas-great-wall-conquering-the-world-with-cinema/

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

“非法”身份:德国在华非政府组织面临瘫痪 (“Illegal” identity: German NGOs in crisis under China’s new foreign NGO law)
Radio France Internationale, March 14, 2017
http://cn.rfi.fr/中国/20170314-“非法”身份:德国在华非政府组织面临瘫

民法總則草案增「抹黑英烈」究責 有關修改惹爭論 學者:要百姓封口 (New liability on “defamation against party heroes” in new draft Civil Code sparks controversy, scholar says it aims to “silence the public”)
Hong Kong Economic Journal, March 14, 2017
http://www1.hkej.com/dailynews/article/id/1512078/民法總則草案增「抹黑英烈」究責

Related:
关于《中华人民共和国民法总则(草案)》的说明 (Explanation regarding “General Provisions of the Civil Code (Draft)”)
National People’s Congress of the PRC, March 8, 2017
http://www.npc.gov.cn/npc/xinwen/2017-03/09/content_2013899.htm

The lone voices of dissent in China’s political wilderness
South China Morning Post, March 14, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2078472/lone-voices-dissent-chinas-political-wilderness