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, August 09, 2021

Access to Justice (司法公正)

China Stops Issuing New Passports, Slaps Entry, Exit Curbs on Citizens
Radio Free Asia, August 6, 2021

Alibaba Suspends Employees After Rape Accusation
阿里解雇涉嫌强奸下属员工,受害人称此前向公司反映无果

The New York Times, August 9, 2021

山西临汾教会九人被捕 多年抗拒加入三自教会(9 house church members are arrested in Linfen, Shanxi for refusing to join state-controlled church)
Radio Free Asia, August 9, 2021

Xinjiang (新疆)

China Imposes Mandarin-Language Teaching on Kindergartens in Ethnic Minority, Rural Areas
Radio Free Asia, August 6, 2021

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Wolf vs panda: is China at a crossroads over how to spread its global message?
South China Morning Post, August 8, 2021

Related:
Growling Back at the West
China Media Project, August 8, 2021

Australia flags democracies’ trade swing from China to India
Associated Press, August 9, 2021

Related:
不满北京贸易霸凌,澳大利亚拟以印度“完美取代”中国(Dissatisfied with Beijing's trade bullying, Australia to replace China with India)
Voice of America, August 9, 2021

众议院外委会共和党人有关新冠病毒起源和武汉病毒所的调查报告(全文翻译)(Full text translation of House Foreign Affairs Committee Minority Staff report on the origins of Covid-19 and Wuhan Institute of Virology)
Voice of America, August 7, 2021

Related:
The Origins of Covid-19: An Investigation of the Wuhan Institute of Virology
U.S. House Foreign Affairs committee, August 2021

Access to Information (公众知情权)

There’s a religious revival going on in China – under the constant watch of the Communist Party
The Conversation, August 6, 2021

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

MASS RESIGNATIONS AT SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL OVER ETHICALLY FRAUGHT CHINA GENETICS PAPERS
Intercept, August 4, 2021

Related:
中国要建7亿男性基因库震惊世界,美科学刊物众编委怒而辞职(China to build DNA collection of all 700 million males; 8 editorial board members of American scientific publication resign in anger)
Voice of America, August 7, 2021

北京检方就微信“青春模式”对腾讯提起诉讼(Beijing prosecutors indict Tencent over WeChat’s “Youth Model”)
Voice of America, August 7, 2021

2022 Beijing Winter Olympics (2022北京冬奥)

Attacks on foreign journalists in China cast shadow over Beijing’s upcoming Olympics
Chinese Human Rights Defenders, August 7, 2021

All eyes on Beijing Winter Games as 'most challenging' Olympics close
Agence France-Presse, August 9, 2021

Hong Kong (香港)

Every nominee for Hong Kong election committee will have past words, deeds, interviews probed – Chief Sec.
Hong Kong Free Press, August 7, 2021

Related:
Establishment-leaning Hong Kong education group registers for Election Committee polls, vows to break opposition ‘monopoly’
South China Morning Post, August 9, 2021

From Olympians to tycoons and filmmakers, who are the ‘patriotic sector’ voters of Hong Kong’s powerful Election Committee?
South China Morning Post, August 7, 2021

香港民研:逾半人不認識新選制 鍾劍華:真係冇辦法認為呢個係一個選舉(Survey shows over half of respondents are unfamiliar with the revamped election system; academic: Hard to consider this an election)
inmedia.hk, August 6, 2021

“We Hongkongers Survey” press conference on the theme “Election Committee Elections under the New Election System” cum mini-policy forum
「我們香港人」倡導計劃的有關新選舉制度下的選委會選舉調查新聞發佈會暨小型政策論壇
Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute, August 6, 2021

Hong Kong man accused of displaying ‘seditious’ posters to threaten judges in national security case, bail denied
Hong Kong Free Press, August 9, 2021

Hong Kong Democratic Party vice-chairman Lee Wing-tat leaves for London, will not return ‘within short period of time’
South China Morning Post, August 7, 2021

Hong Kong minister signals path to adopting China anti-sanctions law
Reuters, August 8, 2021

Hong Kong’s RTHK to partner with state-owned China Media Group, air more mainland China-produced shows, city leader says
South China Morning Post, August 9, 2021

Hong Kong Arts Development Council members quit after Chinese state media attacks
Hong Kong Free Press, August 9, 2021

No evidence Hong Kong’s largest teachers’ union breached national security law, says top adviser to leader
South China Morning Post, August 7, 2021

【專訪】製作裁判法院示威案資料庫 年輕律師結合民間力量 填補香港歷史空白(Young lawyers compile database of 2019 protests-related Magistrates' Court cases)
Stand News, August 7, 2021

Related:
《香港裁判法院示威案件判例匯編》(Compendium Project)
Compendium Project, August 7, 2021

‘UK not doing enough to support those fleeing Hong Kong, advocacy group says
The Guardian, August 8, 2021

Related:
‘Employers seem baffled by this visa’: Hongkongers who have fled to UK
The Guardian, August 8, 2021

Commentary (评论)

Hong Kong district councils: The rule of law and the rule of Carrie Lam
Hong Kong Free Press, August 7, 2021

China’s Growing Censorship Is Training the Public to Be Online Snitches
Foreign Policy, August 8, 2021

China’s soft technology power is as important as its physical hardware that launches rockets
South China Morning Post, August 9, 2021

China: Authorities must immediately release imprisoned Changsha Funeng staff
Amnesty International, August 6, 2021

Germany must stop deportation of Chinese Activist Liu Bing
Chinese Human Rights Defenders, August 6, 2021

Friday, August 06, 2021

Xinjiang (新疆)

China’s military names new commander for troubled Xinjiang region
South China Morning Post, August 5, 2021

China’s efforts to lift Xinjiang’s economy may smother it
The Economist, August 7th, 2021 edition

Taiwan (台湾)

US Senate supports Taiwan’s WHO bid
Taipei Times, August 6, 2021

Related:
美参议院通过法案要求政府制定策略协助台湾重获WHA观察员身分(U.S. Senate passes bill requiring State Dep’t to formulate strategy to help Taiwan regain WHA observer status)
Radio France Internationale, August 6, 2021

Is Taiwan Next?
台湾会是下一个香港吗?

The New York Times, August 6, 2021

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Lawyers detained in China over courtroom video of prosecutor admitting errors
South China Morning Post, August 6, 2021

丁家喜、许志永已被起诉到临沂市中级人民法院(New Citizens Movement advocates Ding Jiaxi and Xu Zhiyong have been indicted, to face trial in Linyi Intermediate Court)
Weiquanwang, August 6, 2021

Access to Information (公众知情权)

中共发起打击“假新闻” 加压社交媒体平台(CPC cracks down on “fake news,” puts pressure on social media platforms)
Deutsche Welle, August 6, 2021

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Australia’s proposed Magnitsky-style sanctions law could target China: analysts
South China Morning Post, August 6, 2021

Why the Quad Alarms China
Foreign Affairs, August 6, 2021

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

China’s Tech Sector Regulations Are Costly But Not Shocking
The Diplomat, August 6, 2021

UK-published technology report says products sold by US tech firms help China’s surveillance state
South China Morning Post, August 6, 2021

Related:
China's Surveillance State: A Global Project
TOP1QVPN, August, 2021

社交媒体:一个虚假帐号矩阵如何推动亲中宣传和叙事(Social media: How a matrix of fake accounts promotes pro-China propaganda and narrative)
British Broadcasting Corporation, August 6, 2021

Hong Kong (香港)

Biden grants ‘safe haven’ to Hongkongers in US amid China crackdown
Associated Press, August 5, 2021

Related:
National security law: Beijing slams US ‘safe haven’ offer to Hongkongers as ‘plot to stir up trouble’, interference in city affairs
South China Morning Post, August 6, 2021

Hong Kong politics: Election Committee nominations kick off, but sources say many seats will go uncontested to pro-Beijing camp
South China Morning Post, August 6, 2021

Related:
Explainer | What you need to know about Hong Kong’s Election Committee, with key polls on the horizon and nominations opening
South China Morning Post, August 6, 2021

【選民查冊】《立場》揭三公司疑停運仍成功做選民 未被選舉處 DQ(Stand News finds three defunct companies still eligible to vote for Election Committee)
Stand News, August 5, 2021

Hong Kong education chief urges teachers to reassess union membership in open letter
Hong Kong Free Press, August 6, 2021

Related:
Hong Kong’s embattled teachers’ union forms working group to foster students’ ‘affection for home and country’
Hong Kong Free Press, August 6, 2021

教協網教材全線下架 包括介紹本港政制發展、八九民運、劉曉波資料(Professional teachers' union website takes down all education materials including contents about development of Hong Kong’s political system, 1989 Democracy Movement, and Liu Xiaobo)
Stand News, August 6, 2021

7 members of HKU ruling body urge reversal of student campus ban
Hong Kong Free Press, August 6, 2021

李家超:香港新的国安立法将侧重打击外国间谍活动(Chief Secretary John Lee: Article 23 legislation to focus on combating foreign espionage)
Radio France Internationale, August 6, 2021

【起底刑事化】私隱專員無手令仍可搜查電子器材 鍾麗玲:只會望一望(Anti-doxxing law permits privacy commissioner to search electronic devices without warrant)
Stand News, August 6, 2021

美籍律師襲休班警囚4.5月 官准保釋等候上訴(American lawyer granted bail pending appeal over attacking off-duty police during 2019 protests)
Ming Pao, August 6, 2021

Commentary (评论)

东京奥运: “可信、可爱、可敬”的中国形象?(Tokyo Olympics: "Trustworthy, adorable, venerable" Chinese image?)
Voice of America, August 6, 2021

Thursday, August 05, 2021

Xinjiang (新疆)

东亚会议上布林肯关切香港新疆问题,王毅发飙:你们死了这条心吧 (U.S. Blinken raises concern over Xinjiang, Hong Kong in East Asia Summit; PRC Foreign Minister Wang Yi: “Just give up already”)
Voice of America, August 5, 2021

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Calls Grow For Release of Chinese Citizen Journalist on Hunger Strike
Radio Free Asia, August 5, 2021

Court in China's Anhui Jails Rights Activist Over Foreign Funding
Radio Free Asia, August 4, 2021

长沙富能公益案之程渊被判刑5年有期徒刑(Cheng Yuan, Changsha anti-discrimination activist, is sentenced to 5 years in prison for "subversion of state power")
Weiquanwang, August 5, 2021

Access to Information (公众知情权)

How a fake network pushes pro-China propaganda
BBC News, August 5, 2021

Related:
Revealed: coordinated attempt to push pro-China, anti-Western narratives on social media
Centre for Information Resilience, August 5, 2021

China launches campaign against ‘fake news’ as Beijing seeks to purify online information, targeting social media
South China Morning Post, August 5, 2021

Buoyed by rising nationalism, China’s keyboard warriors take aim at Olympic athletes
The Washington Post, August 5, 2021

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Chinese Social Media Is Still A Social Force
Protocol, August 4, 2021