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.

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Families of Chinese activists face house arrest, harassment from “smiling tigers”
Reuters, April 16, 2018
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-rights/families-of-chinese-activists-face-house-arrest-harassment-from-smiling-tigers-idUSKBN1HN1BA

吴淦案二审将开庭 父亲徐孝顺被软禁 (Father put under house arrest as rights defender Wu Gan faces trial of second instance)
Radio Free Asia, April 16, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/yf2-04162018110017.html

甄江华的代理律师被通知遭解聘 (Lawyers of rights activist Zhen Jianghua told by police they are fired)
Radio Free Asia, April 16, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/yf1-04162018120449.html

最高检印发党组巡视工作5年规划:推动解决司法不公等问题 (Supreme People’s Procuratorate issues 5-year plan for system-wide inspection work , aims include “ensuring the Party's absolute leadership over procuratorial work”)
Supreme People's Procuratorate WeChat Public Account, April 16, 2018
https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_2078727

Related:
China to step up inspections of prosecutors
Xinhua News Agency, April 16, 2018
http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201804/16/WS5ad4bbf5a3105cdcf6518943.html

Access to Information (信息公开)

Why do Chinese citizens care so much about airstrikes on Syria this time?
The Diplomat, April 16, 2018
https://thediplomat.com/2018/04/why-do-chinese-citizens-care-so-much-about-airstrikes-on-syria-this-time/

接受社会监督,全国法院决胜“基本解决执行难”信息网上线 (Supreme People’s Court launches website to publish information on court decisions that are difficult to implement)
People’s Court Daily, April 14, 2018
https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_2075956

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Chinese social media site reverses gay content ban after uproar
批评声浪下,微博取消审查同性恋题材计划
The New York Times, April 16, 2018
EN: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/16/world/asia/china-weibo-gay.html
CH: https://cn.nytimes.com/china/20180417/china-weibo-gay/

民政部集中曝光“中国海军史研究会”等307个涉嫌非法社会组织 (Ministry of Civil Affairs publishes list of 307 allegedly illegal civil society groups)
The Beijing News, April 16, 2018
http://www.bjnews.com.cn/news/2018/04/16/483388.html

Government Accountability (政府问责)

China cuts smog but health damage already done: study
Reuters, April 17, 2018
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-pollution-health/china-cuts-smog-but-health-damage-already-done-study-idUSKBN1HO0C4

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

国家安全部开通互联网举报受理平台 (Ministry of National Security launches bilingual online platform to allow reporting of national security, espionage crimes)
Xinhua News Agency, April 15, 2018
http://www.xinhuanet.com/legal/2018-04/15/c_1122685333.htm

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

Taiwan’s leader says island secure ahead of mainland China naval drills
Agence France-Presse, April 17, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2142091/taiwans-leader-says-island-secure-ahead-mainland-china

Related:
Beijing ready to snuff out any separatist move, and live-fire drill in Taiwan Strait is proof, official says
South China Morning Post, April 16, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/2141995/beijing-ready-snuff-out-any-separatist-move-and-live

China's ZTE “poses risk to UK security”
British Broadcasting Corporation, April 16, 2018
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-43784990

Related:
China vows to defend “rights” after US bans sales to ZTE for seven years
Deutsche Welle, April 17, 2018
http://www.dw.com/en/china-vows-to-defend-rights-after-us-bans-sales-to-zte-for-seven-years/a-43414678

國安教育日公布七案例 三外籍老師泄國家機密 (China publicizes 7 national security cases on National Security Education Day, accuses 3 foreign teachers of espionage)
Sing Tao Daily, April 16, 2018
http://std.stheadline.com/daily/news-content.php?id=1784330&target=2

Hong Kong (香港)

Legality of Hong Kong media covering pro-independence comments “will depend on the situation and law,” Lam says
Hong Kong Free Press, April 17, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/04/17/legality-hong-kong-media-covering-pro-independence-comments-will-depend-situation-law-lam-says/

Related:
No timetable for Hong Kong national security law legislation, says Chief Executive Carrie Lam
Hong Kong Free Press, April 17, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/04/17/no-timetable-hong-kong-national-security-law-legislation-says-chief-executive-carrie-lam/

Video: Hong Kong democracy activists “freeze” for Chinese national anthem in Mong Kok stunt
Hong Kong Free Press, April 17, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/04/17/video-hong-kong-democracy-activists-freeze-chinese-national-anthem-mong-kok-stunt/

Related:
Beijing “confuses Hong Kong localism with being anti-China”
South China Morning Post, April 17, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2141993/beijing-confuses-hong-kong-localism-being-anti-china

Construction of Hong Kong’s “shoebox” flats soars along with prices
South China Morning Post, April 17, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2142000/hong-kongs-shoebox-homes-increase-sevenfold-five-years

Related:
Video: Hong Kong’s maddening density explored by drone
Hong Kong Free Press, August 6, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/08/06/video-hong-kongs-maddening-density-explored-drone/

HK$2m investigation into ex-Hong Kong leader CY Leung will enlist local and overseas lawyers to gather evidence
Hong Kong Free Press, April 16, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/04/16/hk2m-investigation-ex-hong-kong-leader-cy-leung-will-enlist-local-overseas-lawyers-gather-evidence/

Commentary (评论)

In Translation: When does a China tech firm’s corporate apology become a political “confession”?
Hong Kong Free Press, April 17, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/04/17/translation-china-tech-firms-corporate-apology-become-political-confession/

23條立法 林太最大任務? (Is enacting Article 23 Carrie Lam's greatest mission?)
Mingpao, April 17, 2018
https://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20180417/s00022/1523884658924

Has Xi Jinping changed China? Not really
China File, April 16, 2018
http://www.chinafile.com/reporting-opinion/viewpoint/has-xi-jinping-changed-china-not-really

The Chinese dissident who wrote in blood
The Wall Street Journal, April 13, 2018
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-chinese-dissident-who-wrote-in-blood-1523634068