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 11, 2014

Animal Welfare and Rights (动物福利和权利)

Sales of shark fin in China drop by up to 70%
The Guardian, August 7, 2014
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/chinas-choice/2014/aug/08/sales-of-shark-fin-china-drop-70

Corruption (腐败)

No ordinary Zhou: In carrying out the most significant purge in a generation, Xi Jinping seeks to tighten his grip
The Economist, August 9, 2014
http://www.economist.com/news/china/21610313-carrying-out-most-significant-purge-generation-xi-jinping-seeks-tighten-his-grip-no

GSK China crisis: Peter Humphrey sentenced to two-and-a-half years
The Telegraph, August 9, 2014
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/pharmaceuticalsandchemicals/11022230/GSK-China-crisis-Peter-Humphrey-sentenced-to-two-and-a-half-years.html

Culture (文化)

The spirit level: The Chinese are drinking more
The Economist, August 9, 2014
http://www.economist.com/news/china/21611118-chinese-are-drinking-more-spirit-level

Disasters (灾难)

China struggles to expand quake-proof construction
Voice of America, August 11, 2014
http://www.voanews.com/content/china-struggles-to-expand-quake-proof-construction/2409447.html

Domestic security (国内安全)

Beijing wants to hire 100,000 volunteers as “anti-terror informants”
South China Morning Post, August 11, 2014,
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1570874/offer-big-rewards-terrorism-tip-offs-met-doubt-public

中国解放军总政:防止政治上的自由主义 (PLA’s political department aims to “prevent political liberalism”)
Deutsch Welle, August 11, 2014
http://dw.de/p/1CsY2

习近平:法治是治国理政的基本方式 (Xi Jinping: Rule of law is the fundamental method for governing the country)
The Beijing News, August 11, 2014
http://www.bjnews.com.cn/news/2014/08/11/329114.html

Gender (性别)

Woman held in Shenzhen allegedly with blood of pregnant women set for Hong Kong gender tests
South China Morning Post, August 11, 2014
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1571334/woman-held-shenzhen-allegedly-blood-pregnant-women-set-hong-kong-gender

Human Rights Defenders (人权卫士)

正在服刑的 89民运学生领袖周勇军病情危殆 (Zhou Yongjun, imprisoned 1989 Democracy Movement student leader, in critical medical condition)
Radio Free Asia, August 10, 2014
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/sd-08102014145304.html

高智晟被“伪释放” 国际呼吁还真自由 狱中待遇及身体情况引发关注 (Int’l community calls for “real freedom” for Gao Zhisheng, expresses concern about his health and treatment in prison)
Radio Free Asia, August 8, 2014
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/xl2-08082014101358.html

Information Control (信息控制)

国信办副主任彭波解读“即时通信十条” (Deputy Director of the State Internet Information Office explains new regulations on instant messaging services)
people.cn, August 11, 2014
http://politics.people.com.cn/n/2014/0811/c1001-25444351.html

Related:
China Issues New Regulations on Mobile Text and Voice Messaging Services (HRIC Translation)
Human Rights in China, August 8, 2014
http://www.hrichina.org/en/press-work/hric-bulletin/china-issues-new-regulations-mobile-text-and-voice-messaging-services-hric

85 people “arrested or detained” as China steps up clampdown on internet rumours
South China Morning Post, August 11, 2014
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1570034/85-people-arrested-or-detained-china-steps-clampdown-internet-rumours

小米就未经同意上传数据北京服务器致歉 (Xiaomi Inc, producer of smartphones and mobile apps, apologizes for uploading data to Beijing server without users' consent)
British Broadcasting Corporation, August 11, 2014
http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/china/2014/08/140811_xiaomi_leak_hongkong_taiwan.shtml

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

China looks to high-speed rail to expand reach
The New York Times, August 8, 2014
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/09/world/asia/china-looks-to-high-speed-rail-to-expand-reach.html

Media (媒体)

Televised confessions on state-run TV consolidate China's social control
The Guardian, August 11, 2014
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/11/televised-confessions-state-tv-china-social-control

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

China cracking down on Christian groups along North Korea border: sources
Reuters, August 11, 2014
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/11/us-northkorea-china-christians-idUSKBN0GB13I20140811

Tibet (西藏)

藏族女作家唯色拉萨机场被“请喝茶” (Tibetan female writer, Woeser Tsering, "invited to drink tea" at Lhasa airport)
Radio Free Asia, August 8, 2014
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shaoshuminzu/vt-08082014134246.html

Related:
Tibetan writer Woeser detained on arrival at Lhasa airport
Radio Free Asia, August 8, 2014
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/detention-08082014141123.html