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, March 17, 2014

Censorship and Surveillance (审查和监控)

WeChat censored in China
Liberty Voice, March 15, 2014
http://guardianlv.com/2014/03/wechat-censored-in-china/

Consumer Product Safety (消费品安全)

Backed by revised law, Chinese consumers rise to the occasion
Global Times, March 16, 2014
www.globaltimes.cn/content/848714.shtml#.UyZavtKSzSk

Culture (文化)

Ai Weiwei asks China president to visit his Berlin exhibition
Agence France-Presse, March 16, 2014
au.news.yahoo.com/world/a/22001963/ai-weiwei-asks-china-president-to-visit-his-berlin-exhibition/

中文——中国的“软实力” (The Chinese language-China's “soft power”)
Financial Times, March 14, 2014
www.ftchinese.com/story/001055254

Human Rights Defenders (人权卫士)

谴责迫害曹顺利致死的紧急联署数千 胡佳吁完成遗愿及联合国默哀 (Petition condemning persecution of Cao Shunli signed by several thousands, Hu Jia urges UN to observe moment of silence)
Radio Free Asia, March 15, 2014
www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/sy-03152014124454.html

Related:
Rights activists launch signature campaign to demand investigation of Cao Shunli’s death
关于严厉谴责中国政府将曹顺利女士迫害至死的紧急联署
Su Yutong, Wen Yunchao, Wang Lihong, Hu Jia, and Teng Biao, March 14, 2014
http://www.hrichina.org/en/citizens-square/rights-activists-launch-signature-campaign-demand-investigation-cao-shunlis-death

U.S. "disturbed" by death of Chinese activist Cao Shunli
曹顺利不治死亡 美国表“深感不安”
British Broadcasting Corporation, March 15, 2014
EN: www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-26597271
CH: www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/china/2014/03/140315_us_china_caoshunli.shtml

Statement by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton regarding the death of Chinese human rights defender, Ms Cao Shunli
欧盟外交和安全事务高级代表凯瑟琳•阿什顿有关中国维权人士曹顺利女士逝世的声明
European Union External Action, March 15, 2014
EN: eeas.europa.eu/statements/docs/2014/140315_02_en.pdf
CH: http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/china/press_corner/all_news/news/2014/20140317_zh.htm

China denies dead dissident refused medical treatment
Reuters, March 17, 2014
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/17/us-china-dissident-idUSBREA2G0ES20140317?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews

Information Control (信息控制)

尴尬的提问者 (The awkward reporter)
Financial Times, March 14, 2014
www.ftchinese.com/story/001055269

China is decentralizing movie censorship. But will it make a difference?
The Wall Street Journal, March 17, 2014
blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2014/03/17/china-is-decentralizing-movie-censorship-but-will-it-make-a-difference/?mod=WSJBlog

International Human Rights (国际人权)

Canada raises organ harvesting at UN
Epoch Times, March 14, 2014
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/563960-canada-raises-organ-harvesting-at-un/

International Relations (Security, Trade and Investment) , 国际关系(安全,贸易和投资)

Michelle Obama expected to steer clear of controversy in China
The Guardian, March 16, 2014
www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/16/michelle-obama-china-trip

China urges restraint on Ukraine after UN resolution veto
Agence France-Presse, March 16, 2014
au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/world/a/22010669/china-urges-restraint-on-ukraine-after-un-resolution-veto/

Labor (劳工)

中国人大工农代表的“真相” (The “truth” behind NPC deputies representing peasants and workers)
Financial Times, March 17, 2014
www.ftchinese.com/story/001055274?full=y

Political and Economic Reform (政治经济改革)

President Xi Jinping heading party's military reform panel
South China Morning Post, March 15, 2014
www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1449393/president-xi-jinping-heading-partys-military-reform-panel

China population structure change demands economic reform
Liberty Voice, March 15, 2014
guardianlv.com/2014/03/china-population-structure-change-demands-economic-reform/

Refugees and Asylum Seekers (难民和庇护寻求者)

美国呼吁泰国保护寻求庇护的维吾尔人 (U.S. urges Thailand to protect Uyghur asylum-seekers)
Radio France International, March 15, 2014
www.chinese.rfi.fr/中国/20140315-美国呼吁泰国保护寻求庇 护的维吾尔人

Related:
Thailand sentences suspected Uighur asylum seekers despite appeals from the United States
Australian Network News, March 15, 2014
www.abc.net.au/news/2014-03-15/an-us-china-uighur-protection/5323116

Daily Press Briefings
United States Department of State, March 14, 2014
www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2014/03/223522.htm#THAILAND

Thailand: don’t forcibly return Uighurs to China
Human Rights Watch, March 14, 2014
www.hrw.org/news/2014/03/14/thailand-don-t-forcibly-return-uighurs-china

Technology (科技)

手机预装软件调查报告:预装泛滥 强制绑架 (Survey: 88% of users say their smartphones came with too many pre-installed apps)
Caijing, March 15, 2014
www.caijing.com.cn/2014-03-15/114011516.html

Tibet (西藏)

四川阿坝和青海泽库两僧自焚抗议 (Two monks self-immolate in Tibetan areas in Sichuan and Qinghai)
Radio Free Asia, March 16, 2014
www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shaoshuminzu/dz-03162014140706.html

Related:
Two Tibetan monks self-immolate on crackdown anniversary
Radio Free Asia, March 16, 2014
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/burning-03162014125839.html