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 22, 2019

Xinjiang (新疆)

网传新疆高校换校徽 新校徽去除维吾尔文 (Xinjiang universities remove Uyghur script from official logos)
Radio Free Asia, March 21, 2019

Sweden grants refugee status to China's Uyghur Muslims, prompting calls for UK to follow suit
The Independent, March 21, 2019

维吾尔公知相继失踪 民族文化命悬一线 (Uyghur culture on the brink of collapse, intellectuals disappear one by one)
Radio Free Asia, March 21, 2019

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Tibetan set to become world’s longest-serving political prisoner
Voice of America, March 21, 2019

Police detain labor activist Wei Zhili in southern China, wife says
Agence France-Presse, March 21, 2019

王全璋处境未明 家属往最高院申诉 (As Wang Quanzhang’s status remains unknown, wife Li Wenzu and other 709 families protest at Supreme People’s Court )
Radio Free Asia, March 21, 2019

张军在全国检察机关学习贯彻全国两会精神电视电话会议上强调 把以人民为中心融入每一项检察工作中 (Supreme People’s Court urges “people-centered” trials, strengthened news and public opinion work by procuratorates)
Legal Daily, March 22, 2019

Access to Information (信息公开)

Senior CPC official stresses building high-level think tanks
Sina, March 22, 2019

中國教育初創公司VIPKid整頓西方老師政治敏感言論
Chinese education startup puts Western teachers on notice
Wall Street Journal, March 22, 2019

China: Government threats to academic freedom abroad
Human Rights Watch, March 21, 2019

American colleges hosted “an important part of China’s propaganda set-up”; now they’re bailing out
Mother Jones, March 21, 2019

After New Zealand massacre, Islamophobia spreads on Chinese social media
Columbia Journalism Review, March 21, 2019

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Chinese or Taiwanese? Nana Ou-Yang is at the center of a political firestorm
SupChina, March 21, 2019

多个人权组织要求马克龙向习近平提及人权问题 (Human rights organizations urge French president Macron to raise human rights issues with Xi Jinping in upcoming meeting)
Radio France Internationale, March 21, 2019

Government Accountability (政府问责)

China is winning the war for Nepali Buddhism; China’s inroads in Nepal mean increasing control over Buddhist heritage sites – with implications for Tibet
The Diplomat, March 21, 2019

Kachin women from Myanmar “raped until they get pregnant” in China
The Guardian, March 21, 2019

Related:
Myanmar: Women, girls trafficked as “brides” to China; government inaction, conflict, China’s “gender gap” fuel sexual slavery
Human Rights Watch, March 21, 2019

Former Philippine officials accuse Chinese President Xi Jinping of crimes against humanity at International Criminal Court
Associated Press, March 21, 2019

China tells Christianity to be more Chinese
Christianity Today, March 20, 2019

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

Google bans VPNs from buying banner ads in China
The Drum, March 22, 2019

Related:
Google says VPN ads are banned in China
Inkstone, March 21, 2019

Huawei’s U.S. government lawsuit may lift the air of “mystery” around the Chinese telecoms giant
South China Morning Post, March 21, 2019

Hong Kong (香港)

梁天琦、李諾文、林傲軒暴動罪重審無罪 容偉業三罪罪成 (Edward Leung, two others acquitted of rioting charges; Yung Wai-ip convicted of 3 charges, to be sentenced on April 4)
The Stand News, March 22, 2019

Related:
Localist activist Edward Leung cleared of second rioting charge during 2016 Mong Kok unrest
Hong Kong Free Press, March 22, 2019

為什麼香港政府會放寬空氣污染指標?(Why did Hong Kong government relax its air pollution benchmarks?)
Inmediahk.net, March 22, 2019

【逃犯條例修訂 FAQ】吳靄儀逐點反駁政府:法庭無權審議大陸證據合法性 香港記者高危 (Legal scholar Margaret Ng rebuts government narrative: Courts have no power to review evidence raised by mainland, journalists in Hong Kong at high risk)
The Stand News, March 21, 2019

Related:
逃犯例剔商罪 大律師會指反削現制 已簽協議19國 稅務環保版權罪行多包 (Excluding commercial crimes in extradition law amendments undermines existing regime, says Bar Association spokesman, citing existing extradition agreements)
Ming Pao, March 22, 2019

立法會否決改革移民及入境政策無約束力議案 (LegCo vetoes non-binding motion to reform immigration policy on one-way permits)
Radio Television Hong Kong, March 21, 2019

Hong Kong is no closer to legalizing same-sex marriage, says Chief Exec. Carrie Lam
Hong Kong Free Press, March 21, 2019

Commentary (评论)

【離鄉工作徵稿】來港四年,「東方華爾街」不是外人想的光鮮亮麗 (A Taiwan citizen working in Hong Kong: “Wall Street of the East” is not as glamorous as outsiders think)
The News Lens, March 22, 2019

法治课|京东要求员工提交亲属同学关系,是否侵犯隐私?(Did JD.com invade privacy of employees by demanding information about personal ties?)
The Paper, March 22, 2019

Why would Italy endorse China’s Belt and Road Initiative? Potential move by Rome has caused allies and EU to flag serious concerns
Financial Times, March 21, 2019

China’s leaders should study James Bond films; revealing one’s master plan too early can be dangerous
The Economist, March 21, 2019

中国反腐模式是制度失败的产物 (China’s anti-corruption model is the product of systemic failure)
Radio Free Asia, March 21, 2019

Thursday, March 21, 2019

Xinjiang (新疆)

Muslim countries urged to press China end crackdown of Uyghurs
Al Jazeera, March 20, 2019

China to invite European diplomats to Xinjiang in new diplomatic push
Reuters, March 20, 2019

Related:
“再教育营”关注不断 中国计划邀请欧洲外交官参观新疆 (Beijing to invite diplomats of European embassies to visit Xinjiang)
Radio France Internationale, March 21, 2019

After mass detentions, China razes Muslim communities to build a loyal city
Wall Street Journal, March 20, 2019

Access to Justice (司法公正)

苏州大抓捕嫌疑人戈觉平下周受审 (Ge Jiaoping, activist arrested in 2016 Suzhou crackdown, to face trial next week for inciting subversion of state power)
Radio Free Asia, March 20, 2019

孟宏伟妻控诉“政治迫害” 担心安全 (Grace Meng, wife of disappeared former Interpol chief, files complaint in French courts alleging attempted kidnapping)
Deutsche Welle, March 20, 2019

China court plans to set up national environmental fund: Media
Reuters, March 20, 2019

陕西监狱探索“五大改造”新路径,数百党支部书记为罪犯上政治大课 (Shaanxi prison system employs hundreds of CPC secretaries to guide prisoners “to recognize Party leadership ideologically and emotionally”
Legal Daily, March 20, 2019

Access to Information (信息公开)

China trying to influence the world’s media, says new report
Foreign Correspondents’ Club, March 20, 2019

In Beijing, Harvard President Bacow affirms academic freedom
Harvard Magazine, March 20, 2019

Related:
Full text: The pursuit of truth and the mission of the university
Harvard University Office of the President, March 20, 2019

在通向网络强国的征程上稳步前进——写在中央网络安全和信息化委员会成立一周年之际(Xinhua on first anniversary of Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission’s formation: “the Party’s voice has become the strongest voice in cyberspace”)
Xinhua, March 20, 2019

New book examines “the great firewall of China”
China Digital Times, March 19, 2019

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

內地女權人士鄭楚然:丈夫被捕,因幫塵肺病工人維權 (Activist Wei Zhili arrested for helping silicosis workers’ rights defense movement, says wife and Feminist Five member “Da Tu” Zheng Churan)
The Stand News, March 21, 2019

Government Accountability (政府问责)

EU leaders to coordinate positions on Thursday ahead of China summit
Reuters, March 20, 2019

Related:
Is China the EU’s “dear friend” or “strategic rival” on human rights?
Human Rights Watch, March 20, 2019

Chinese head teachers ordered to eat with pupils after string of food safety scandals
South China Morning Post, March 20, 2019

Related:
中国成都七中实验学校食物丑闻背后的政府公信力“塔西佗陷阱” (The “Tacitus Trap” and government credibility in recent food safety scandal)
BBC News, March 20, 2019

China marks Tibetan anniversary with military parade
Human Rights Watch, March 20, 2019

Disciplinary inspectors urged to fulfill duty of political supervision
Xinhua, March 20, 2019

Swedish ambassador to China investigated for security breaches in Gui Minhai case
South China Morning Post, March 20, 2019

Pakistan distances itself from China's Belt and Road: Islamabad diverts $171m from CPEC to fund projects legislators want
Nikkei Asian Review, March 20, 2019

Italy rattles US and EU with likely support for China's Belt and Road
The Guardian, March 20, 2019

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

团队自编程序证实手机能偷听,安全专家:未发现“偷听”铁证 (Tech group mocks-up program to prove mobile apps capable of eavesdropping; security expert says no concrete evidence of actual violations)
The Paper, March 21, 2019

U.S. firms are helping build China’s Orwellian state: Tech partnerships are empowering new methods of control
Foreign Policy, March 19, 2019

Hong Kong (香港)

【種族歧視】8歲至今被搜身逾20次 巴裔大學生批歧視條例落後 (Stopped and searched more than 20 times since age 8: A Pakistani student in Hong Kong talks about shortcomings of discrimination laws)
HK01, March 21, 2019

Related:
Why fourth-generation Hongkonger of Pakistani origin who was first stopped and searched by police at age 8 can’t count on racial discrimination law for help
South China Morning Post, March 21, 2019

【移交逃犯】廠商會引述李家超:考慮剔除「十條八條」商業罪行 (Manufacturers’ Association cites Security Chief after meeting: Will consider removing “a few” commercial crimes from extradition law amendments)
The Stand News, March 20, 2019

Related:
Pressure mounts on Hong Kong to remove economic crimes from new China extradition law
Hong Kong Free Press, March 20, 2019

商界憂修訂《逃犯條例》 林鄭:願意再認真研究一下 (Facing persistent concern from business sector, Carrie Lam says willing to “give some more serious thought” to extradition law arrangements)
The Stand News, March 20, 2019

【全文轉載】林麗棠老師弟妺發公開信 冀盡快查真相 指教育局旁觀 (Family of teacher who committed suicide issues open letter to urge comprehensive investigation of systemic issues, criticizes inaction by Education Bureau)
The Stand News, March 20, 2019

港府推6240亿“明日大屿”被指是一带一路工程消化国内过剩产能 (HK $624 billion Lantau Tomorrow Vision project attacked as HK’s version of BRI meant to absorb production overcapacity in mainland)
Radio France Internationale, March 19, 2019

Beijing’s top official in Hong Kong taunts Washington over Huawei executive Sabrina Meng’s arrest, calling it “world’s biggest advertisement”
South China Morning Post, March 20, 2019

People’s Daily head leaves for high-level position at Beijing’s Liaison Office in Hong Kong
Caixin, March 20, 2019

Commentary (评论)

Rich, autocratic China is too powerful an adversary for any democracy
South China Morning Post, March 21, 2019

China’s tit-for-tat detention of two Canadians is a test: The world will judge Beijing on its treatment of the men seized after Huawei CFO arrest
Financial Times, March 20, 2019

【太陽花五週年】藝術小組王翔:318之後,買衣服以不容易被警察抓住為原則 (Interview with Wang Xiang, of Sunflower Movement’s art team : After 318, I buy clothes that don’t make me conspicuous to the police)
The News Lens, March 20, 2019

Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Access to Justice (司法公正)

法律人如何做公益?全国首份公益法律服务指南出炉 (Guide to public interest legal services in China jointly published by Shanghai Law Society, Shanghai Jiaotong University Law School, Legal Vision media outlet)
The Paper, March 17, 2019

Xinjiang (新疆)

China defends Xinjiang camps amid pleas for global action
China Digital Times, March 19, 2019

Related:
权利活动人士谴责中国的新疆白皮书
Rights activists denounce China's Xinjiang white paper
Voice of America, March 19, 2019

Uyghur detainees from Xinjiang “placed in nearly every prison” in Shandong Province
Radio Free Asia, March 19, 2019

When China convinced the U.S. that Uyghurs were waging jihad
The Atlantic, March 19, 2019

Access to Information (信息公开)

正在消失的语言:中国南部的客家话
Decline of Hakka in southern China shows bigger problems ahead
Voice of America, March 20, 2019

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

【圖輯】認識李明哲事件:活該違反中國法律?家屬高調不怕有反效果? (FAQs on Lee Ming-checase)
The News Lens, March 20, 2019

Will China’s new job creation program really benefit workers?
China Labour Bulletin, March 20, 2019

China says Dalai Lama’s reincarnation “must comply with Chinese laws and regulations”
Newsweek, March 19, 2019

Related:
China rejects Dalai Lama’s assertion that his successor could be found in India
The Hindu, March 19, 2019

Foreign NGO Law causes drop in U.S. adoptions, according to State Department
ChinaFile NGO Project, March 19, 2019