HRIC Weekly Brief
July 10, 2024
Top News 头条
On June 9, the ninth anniversary of the 709 Crackdown—the mass arrest of China's prominent human rights lawyers and defenders in a nationwide police operation in 2015—HRIC held a conversation with human rights defender “Koala,” who was the youngest person arrested during the crackdown. Koala bravely described her detention and surveillance by the Chinese authorities, and reflected on her experience as a female human rights defender. “I wouldn’t even be here without the international community advocating for me,” Koala told HRIC. The external attention alarmed the police, who began providing her with more frequent medical care.
Today, those detained in the incident are still affected and many are still living under surveillance. Wang Quanzhang, who was arrested, described the 709 Crackdown as a major turning point and disaster in his life. Last week, Chinese defense lawyer He Zhijuan posted her account of a clash between her and her colleagues and court bailiffs in Guizhou over whether prosecutors were following correct procedures: “[t]he situation in this courtroom reflects the state of the justice system as a whole.” Meanwhile, the authorities in Hong Kong are now expanding the crackdown and including lawyers in politically motivated prosecutions.
Last week, in China’s fourth Universal Periodic Review by the UN, China has rejected numerous human rights recommendations focused on issues such as freedom of expression, the treatment of ethnic minorities, and the detention of activists, asserting that the recommendations by member states are politically motivated and an interference in its internal affairs. In a joint statement together with the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT), the Taiwan Association for Human Rights (TAHR), and the Database Center for North Korean Human Rights (NKDB), HRIC condemns the Chinese government’s use of its fourth Universal Periodic Review to rebuff international concern over serious abuses, issue blanket denials, and make blatantly false statements.
Law & Policy 法律与政策
US-Asia Law Institute: This Week in Asian Law: A new draft of the Public Security Administration Punishment Law drops a controversial provision from an earlier draft that would punish clothing or speech that “hurt the feelings of the Chinese people,” for fears of abuse of administrative discretion.
Related: Public Security Administration Punishments Law (Draft Revisions) (Second Reading Draft).
Key computer system operators to be kept confidential under proposed cybersecurity law, security chief says: Companies behind critical computer systems would not be publicized, under a proposed cybersecurity legislation that would prevent them from being targets of terror attacks and data breaches.
Hong Kong commercial law hub allure damaged by foreign judges row, lawyers say: The recent resignations of two British judges, both global authorities in commercial law, from Hong Kong's Court of Final Appeal raise concerns about the rule of law and will undermine confidence in Hong Kong’s broader commercial legal sector.
Gov’t team behind new security law among 502 named in Hong Kong’s 2024 honours list: Hong Kong’s 2024 “honors list,” which showcases those who have made “significant contributions to the city,” included the lawmakers who implemented Article 23.
Cyber Security & Digital Rights 网络安全与数字权利
Chinese Premier Li Qiang calls for global cooperation, ‘more open mindsets’ on AI: Amid an AI race between Beijing and Washington, Li urged countries to promote international cooperation on AI with “more open mindset” while the U.S. and other countries claim that Chinese technology has been used for espionage operations.
Related: China leading generative AI patents race, UN report says: China filed six times more patents than the U.S. for generative AI inventions within the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), with the company GenAI filing more than 38,000 between 2014 and 2023.
Microsoft China bans Android, demands staff use iPhones: All staff in Microsoft China using Android smartphones, including China's own Huawei or Xiaomi, would now be provided with an iPhone 15 as collection points for iPhones across its facilities in China and Hong Kong are being set up.
Chinese Social Media Platforms Launch Crackdown on Extreme Nationalism and Xenophobic Hate-Speech After Fatal Suzhou Stabbing: Following the fatal stabbing of a Chinese bus attendant who protected a Japanese mother and her child, Chinese social media platforms finally announce a crackdown on “extreme” nationalism.
Related: China Grapples with Nationalism, and Fuels It. Chinese state media continues to reinforce anti-Japanese sentiment even as social media platforms rush to address and counter the “extreme” nationalism in the wake of a tragic incident.
Diaspora Community & Transnational Repression 海外社群和跨国镇压
Chinese risk perilous journey in search of ‘freedom’ in the United States: In 2023, more than 37,000 Chinese nationals were arrested for illegally crossing the U.S.’s southern border. Many migrants are middle-aged and middle-class, and made great sacrifices to leave China for the United States.
Related: US deports 116 Chinese migrants in first ‘large’ flight in 5 years.
Scammed by the fake Chinese police: Members of the Chinese diaspora have been affected by police impersonation scams, operated by Chinese-organized crime groups based in countries like Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos.
Human Rights Defenders & Civil Society 人权捍卫者与公民社会
狱中遭监管“包夹” 中国公民运动领袖许志永再传被酷刑 [Chinese civil movement leader Xu Zhiyong has reportedly been tortured again in prison]: There are serious concerns that Xu’s fundamental freedoms and human rights have been severely violated in prison, and his family are also being harassed, threatened, and intimidated.
Related: Prominent Chinese dissident Xu Zhiyong cut off from other inmates. According to U.S.-based legal scholar Teng Biao, Xu is subjected to round-the-clock monitoring by his cell-mates and is being held separately from fellow prisoners under a number instead of his name.
Hong Kong court hears mitigation pleas from Joshua Wong, other democrats: Departing from common law traditions, Wong and most of the activists in the landmark subversion case involving 47 democrats have been denied bail and remanded in custody for more than three years already.
Hong Kong court rejects media tycoon Jimmy Lai’s bid to challenge foreign lawyer ban at top court: In a written judgement, the three judges comprising two Court of Appeal vice-presidents and a Justice of Appeal wrote that the questions raised by Lai’s lawyer in the intended appeal were not “reasonably arguable.”
Hong Kong court denies ex-Tiananmen vigil activist Chow Hang-tung’s bid to remove judge from national security trial: Chow had applied for Justice Anna Lai’s recusal on the basis that Chow would not receive a fair trial, since the judge had access to Chow’s materials in an earlier, separate case.
Hong Kong doctor whose clinic caught fire from tear gas in 2019 appeals court decision over damages: The High Court had denied the claimant’s request for the police chief to take the stand and explain how even after three years of investigations by the police, it had been “impossible” to ascertain who fired the tear gas.
Hong Kong student cleared of rioting in 2019 to see retrial after gov’t successfully appeals acquittal: The District Court judge then had handed down the not-guilty ruling three years ago due to insufficient evidence and conflicting testimony from the police officers who arrested the student Lee Chun-ho, but the government maintains that Lee’s location at the time of protest was evidence of involvement.
Elderly busker, jailed after playing protest anthem ‘Glory to Hong Kong,’ faces fresh charges: The 70-year-old Li Jiexin had already been sentenced to 30 days in prison last October, but is now charged with six counts of performing a musical instrument without a permit and six counts of raising funds without a permit.
Man arrested over flying drone on Hong Kong’s Handover anniversary: A citywide drone ban had been imposed by Hong Kong authorities back in July 2022, during the visit of Xi Jinping on July 1 to mark the 25th Handover anniversary and inaugurate Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee.
Same-sex marriage is not recognised in Hong Kong, but that did not stop 10 LGBTQ couples tying the knot: Wedding planner Next Chapter had organized arrangements and subsidized costs for the “fly-free weddings” which were performed virtually by an officiant in Utah, where there are no residency or citizenship requirements for marriage licenses, in an event marking Pride Month.
China’s Reach & Internal Control 中国: 内控与外扩
China: Government manipulates human rights review: In a joint statement together with the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT), the Taiwan Association for Human Rights (TAHR), and the Database Center for North Korean Human Rights (NKDB), HRIC condemns the Chinese government’s use of its fourth Universal Periodic Review to rebuff international concern over serious abuses, issue blanket denials, and make blatantly false statements.
Related: China rejects human rights recommendations from Western countries after routine UN review: China has rejected numerous human rights recommendations focused on issues such as freedom of expression, the treatment of ethnic minorities, and the detention of activists, asserting that they are politically motivated and an interference in its internal affairs.
The Politics of Pure Business: Western media groups have been partnering with Chinese state media that is committed to strengthening the global impact of the Communist Party’s propaganda and exerting greater influence over global public opinion.
China Starts Influence Ranking for Cities: This is the latest measure in China’s central government’s push for more effective external propaganda to build its international soft power, where provinces and cities aim to build their image abroad.
Xi heads to Central Asia amid waning Russian influence: Xi Jinping visits Central Asia for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, aiming to strengthen China's influence in the region. The trip highlights China's increasing political and economic ties with Central Asian countries, traditionally within Russia's sphere of influence.
China closes 2 Tibetan monastery schools, sends novices to state boarding schools: Buddhist schools at two monasteries in Tibetan-populated areas of western China have closed, and hundreds of novice monks have been forced to attend state-run boarding schools taught in Mandarin.
No Uyghurs from Xinjiang went on Hajj pilgrimage, data shows: The last time any pilgrim from Xinjiang was permitted to go on Hajj was in 2016. Muslims in China need government permission to make the pilgrimage, which as one of the Five Pillars of Islam is required of all Muslims once in their lives.
Police host activities for Uyghurs in Xinjiang on Islamic holiday: In attempts to undermine the observation of the Qurban Eid, or the Feast of the Sacrifice, Chinese police and security officials set up camps to keep an eye on Uyghurs, played communist-themed films, and visited homes to ensure no religious activities were being practiced.
Head of Hong Kong national security police warns of extremism going ‘underground,’ threats in arts: Foreign interference led by the U.S. and the West to intervene in court proceedings or the arrests of national security cases, was allegedly one of the main sources of security risks, alongside “soft resistance.”
Hong Kong gov’t watchdog finds ‘inadequacies’ in refusal to disclose books removed from public libraries: The Leisure and Cultural Services Department had refused to provide such information as it may allegedly endanger national security, and cause a “malicious widespread dissemination” of titles.
International Responses 国际反应
Norwegian arrested for allegedly spying for China: A Norwegian man was arrested on espionage charges allegedly benefiting China, according to the local news agency NTB, citing Norway's security service. The suspect was detained at Oslo's international airport upon his return from China.
US aims to ‘disrupt’ Chinese spy station in Cuba: Satellite images released by a Washington think tank purportedly show the construction of a Chinese spy base capable of surveilling a nearby American naval base.
Current Events 热点新闻
Taiwan calls for release of fishing boat crew seized by Chinese officials from Kinmen island: Kinmen is a Taiwanese island with a significant Taiwanese military presence just 3km away from Chinese shores, which has a history of frequent skirmishes.