HRIC Weekly Brief
February 4, 2025
Top News 头条
In an alarming escalation of transnational repression, official Chinese government and state-run media reports say Chinese courts have set up "mediation stations" in the United States to perform "overseas procuratorial work” based on Chinese legal standards. These programs have reportedly tapped the leaders of several US-based NGOs to serve as “mediators” in this United Front-managed "dual justice system" aimed at exerting control over Chinese populations. The extent to which these stations have been used thus far is unclear, but warrants further investigation.
Meanwhile, generative AI continues to make headlines. Further testing continues to uncover the parameters of DeepSeek’s built-in censorship, such as its self-described restrictions to stick to “government-aligned response[s],” and some ways to get around it. Security concerns are top of mind for many, and Italy’s data protection authority has ordered DeepSeek to stop processing Italians’ data with immediate effect, after DeepSeek did not cooperate with a request for information. Also: a report issued by Google found that hackers from numerous countries, including China, have been using Google’s Gemini chatbot to supercharge cyberattacks against targets in the United States, and Chinese tech giant Alibaba has launched its own advanced AI model, Qwen2.5-Max, alleging that it outperforms several leading AI systems in multiple tests and key benchmarks.
Law & Policy 法律与政策
NPC Calendar: February 2025: The 14th NPC Standing Committee is slated to convene in late February, and the Council of Chairpersons is expected to meet in mid-February to decide on the agenda and the dates of the session.
China's Chilling Anti-Espionage Law: That the scope of application for the revised Anti-Espionage Law is not limited geographically to Chinese territory but extends to foreign territories does not violate international law, but it is unclear when an act constitutes an act of espionage and is thus punishable.
Cyber Security & Digital Rights 网络安全与数字权利
Information manipulation on TikTok and its relation to American users' beliefs about China: A new study explores how TikTok may be manipulated to conceal content critical of China while amplifying narratives that align with Chinese Communist Party objectives: for instance, the results revealed a disproportionately high ratio of pro-CCP to anti-CCP content.
Shots Fired at Bilibili’s “Prefab Bullet-Screen Comments” for Spring Festival Gala: Bilibili users were disappointed to realize that the comments streaming across their screens during China’s most-watched TV event of the year, the Spring Festival Gala, were “prefabricated” comments written by Bilibili staffers rather than actual audience members.
Diaspora Community & Transnational Repression 海外社群和跨国镇压
China wields overseas influence via patriotic network: This network of nationalist supporters outside of China is also known as the “love network,” a reference to their patriotic fervor.
Exiled citizen journalist Teacher Li still a target for Beijing: In an interview with Radio Free Asia, Li discusses the ongoing risk that he could run afoul of China’s “long-arm” law enforcement operations and end up forced to return to China, like other dissidents and activists.
Thai lawyer petitions court for release of detained Uyghurs: Thai lawyer Chuchart Kanpai has filed a petition for the release of 48 detained Uyghur asylum seekers, who have been imprisoned for more than a decade on immigration charges. A hearing will be held on February 17.
中國駐曼徹斯特總領事唐銳避走「曼城和你宵」 出席雪埠賀新春遇示威者噓爆 [Chinese Consul General in Manchester, Tang Rui, skipped "Manchester and You" event and attended Lunar New Year celebration in Sheffield, where he was booed by protesters]: Hong Kong and Tibetan protestors at the Sheffield event shouted: “Free Hong Kong, Free Tibet, Free Uyghurs.” Security guards also stepped in to ensure that the demonstration was peaceful.
US deportations to China continue amid shifts in immigration crackdown: The Trump administration has confirmed that the deportation of Chinese nationals is still underway, and deportations have increased as China signals a greater willingness to repatriate its citizens.
Human Rights Defenders & Civil Society 人权捍卫者与公民社会
杜导斌侄子发表致习近平公开信 呼吁当局还其叔父自由 [Du Daobin's nephew publishes an open letter to Xi Jinping, calling on the authorities to release his uncle]: According to his nephew Le Zailin, Chinese activist and writer Du Daobin has been repeatedly detained, threatened, and monitored since 2003. He was recently silenced and forcibly disappeared by the authorities, losing all contact with his family, and is now on bail pending charges for making two critical comments on WeChat.
因组建“中国民主胜利党”而被以“颠覆国家政权罪”判刑的唐高峰（12年）、王威（8年）、王一飞（7年6个月）、周丹（6年）、刘振刚（5年6个月）、代露（3年）等6位人士的情况通报 [Report on the six people sentenced to "subversion of state power" for forming the "China Democracy Victory Party": Tang Gaofeng (12 years), Wang Wei (8 years), Wang Yifei (7 years and 6 months), Zhou Dan (6 years), Liu Zhenggang (5 years and 6 months), Dai Lu (3 years)]: A Sichuan court has upheld the convictions of several individuals accused of attempting to establish an independent political party in China, the China Democratic Victory Party, and issued lengthy sentences for “subversion of state power.”
China’s dissidents struggling, apart from loved ones at New Year: Chinese political prisoners serving jail terms say the festive season makes separation more painful for some, while others struggle with ill health and restrictions.
China Labour Bulletin Strike Map data analysis: 2024 year in review for workers’ rights: Analysis of strikes across China in 2024 reveal a persistent disregard for workers' rights by employers, corporations, and government authorities, even as China's economic landscape shifts under the pressures of changing overseas investment, domestic demand, and evolving market structures across various sectors.
China’s Reach & Internal Control 中国: 内控与外扩
China: Travel for Uyghurs Heavily Restricted: The Chinese government is maintaining severe restrictions, conditions, and controls on Uyghurs who seek to travel abroad. While the government has permitted Uyghurs in the diaspora to make restricted visits to Xinjiang, it is with the apparent aim of presenting a public image of normalcy.
Chinese Schooling, Tourism, and Language Contribute to Cultural Erasure of Tibet: The Chinese government’s ongoing threats to Tibetan culture in the form of separating children from their families, forced relocations of farmers and nomads, and Sinicizing the Tibetan language, is juxtaposed against the struggle for preservation of Tibetan culture in the region and around the world.