HRIC Weekly Brief
March 19, 2024
Top News 头条
In a “devastating moment for human rights,” Hong Kong’s homegrown Article 23 national security law was passed by a unanimous Legislative Council in a special meeting on Tuesday morning local time, just six days after lawmakers called another special meeting to review the text of the law. It expands the scope of national security, increases penalties to include life imprisonment, and gives the government broad authority to target dissent under vaguely defined crimes including treason and insurrection. The legislation, which will take effect on Saturday, is expected to have an increased chilling effect on the residents of a city whose civil liberties have already been smothered under the weight of the 2020 National Security Law.
Today is also the hundred-day anniversary of the passing of Dr. Gao Yaojie, the trailblazing AIDS activist whose outspoken and tenacious defense of rural communities changed the course of public health in China. Last week, for the tenth anniversary of the passing of human rights defender Cao Shunli, HRIC joined other organizations in putting on a commemoration event in Geneva, featuring the unveiling of a statue of Cao. To remember these heroes and highlight women who still face the repression of the Chinese government, HRIC is featuring a woman Chinese human rights defender every day on our Twitter for the month of March, including Zhang Zhan, Kamile Wayit, Huang Xueqin, and more.
Law & Policy 法律与政策
Thus Spoke Chinese Judges on International Civil Jurisdiction: Insights from Chinese Supreme Court Justices on 2023 Civil Procedure Law Amendment: In December 2023, several judges from China’s Supreme People’s Court (SPC) released an article on the newly passed amendments to the Civil Procedure Law, which this article analyzes. The objective of the changes is “safeguarding China’s sovereignty, security, and development interests” by expanding the types of cases covered under the SPC’s jurisdiction, as well as granting additional discretion to judges to determine whether the case has “proper connection” to China.
Chinese arrests jump nearly 50% amid clampdown on ‘hostile foreign forces’: According to numbers reported by China’s Chief Prosecutor, “2.4 million people were ‘arrested or prosecuted’ last year for offenses related to ‘national security,’” an uptick of nearly 50% as the authorities targeted anyone related to so-called “hostile foreign forces,” a broad term frequently used to target human rights defenders.
Cyber Security & Digital Rights 网络安全与数字权利
Chinese Cyber Nationalists Target Nobel Laureate, Water Company: Chinese cyber nationalists have made headlines in recent months for their vociferous attacks against any person, company, or business that seems insufficiently patriotic, or has even the most tenuous connection to Japan. “Some experts say for Chinese people engaging in online activities, ‘wielding the flag of nationalism’ is like ‘a protective shield.” While others push back against such “witch hunts,” Chinese censors are largely unconcerned with removing nationalist content.
Related: Mo Yan Against the Martyrs.
Surveillance Tech Series: DJI’s Links to Human Rights Abuses in East Turkistan: The Uyghur Human Rights Project has released a new report on human rights violations by Dajiang Innovations, or DJI, the world’s largest drone manufacturer, related to the repression of Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities.
‘10 Don’ts’ for Chinese young people: On the Chinese internet, discussion of “don’ts” for young people has been censored for going against the party’s message of economic positivity. Some young Chinese people believe that even good deeds, such as helping the elderly or donating blood, may open them up to further exploitation—such as being forced to donate organs, if their blood type is known to the authorities.
Diaspora Community & Transnational Repression 海外社群和跨国镇压
Hong Kong artists flee as city grapples with status as arts hub amid rising repression: Since 2019, many Hong Kong artists have left the city in the face of increasing repression. In Brussels, an exhibit of “forbidden art” highlights works that have been targeted by the Hong Kong government. According to artist Lumli, “We’re worried that Hong Kong culture will disappear…but on the other hand it could reappear all over the world.”
Human Rights Defenders & Civil Society 人权捍卫者与公民社会
Chinese city officials issue a rare apology after authorities harass journalists on live TV: In a rare acknowledgement of misbehavior towards journalists, the city of Sanhe issued an apology after city officials were seen on live TV harassing journalists who were attempting to report on an apparent gas explosion that killed seven and injured 27. In China, physical and verbal assault of journalists from government officials and police is a common tactic to deter reporting, particularly on issues that would reflect poorly on the local authorities.
Related: The Ugly Politics of Media Obstruction.
Three years on, whereabouts of Tibetan poet is a mystery: More than three years ago, Tibetan poet Gendun Lhundrub was detained by Chinese police. To this day, the reason for his arrest, his whereabouts, and his wellbeing remain unknown, despite repeated requests from family.
Hong Kong court upholds Tiananmen vigil organisers’ convictions over national security data request: Three Hong Kong activists known for organizing a yearly commemoration of the 1989 Tiananmen Massacre, Chow Hang-tung, Tang Ngok-kwan and Tsui Hon-kwong, have had their convictions upheld for refusing to provide information to national security police.
Concerns over use of ‘transparently false’ torture testimony in Jimmy Lai trial: Andy Li, a pro-democracy activist arrested in 2020, took the stand in Jimmy Lai’s sedition trial to testify against Lai regarding his alleged role in funding advertisement campaigns to build international support for the 2019 protests. A Washington Post investigation found that Li was mistreated and almost certainly tortured while in custody, drawing the legitimacy of his testimony into question.
Hong Kong court jails 12 for storming parliament in pro-democracy protests: Twelve Hong Kong protestors, convicted of rioting in the parliament in July 2019, have been sentenced to between 6.5 and 7 years in prison.
China’s Reach & Internal Control 中国: 内控与外扩
China's stability maintenance system kicks into high gear on ‘sensitive dates’: Ahead of “sensitive dates” such as June 4th or the Two Sessions, China’s “stability maintenance” operations kick into full force. Censorship operations pay particular attention to certain dates and known workaround terms, while the police go after anyone who may be inclined to cause trouble.
Chinese legislature’s meetings return, but the limited openness they once had is gone: This year’s Two Sessions legislative meetings lasted only one week, half that of pre-pandemic meetings, and was more “tightly scripted” to restrict accessibility.
Related: Fiddling with Commas While the Economy Burns.
Hong Kong sees fall in academic freedom amid ongoing crackdown: A report from the Academic Freedom Index found that Hong Kong’s academic freedom has continued to fall since the implementation of 2020’s National Security Law. In the past year, many of Hong Kong’s universities have removed, reworked or shrunk their political science or public policy programs to focus on less controversial areas.
International Responses 国际反应
How Taiwan's Sunflower Movement let young people speak up: This March is the tenth anniversary of Taiwan’s Sunflower Movement, where dozens of students stormed and occupied the parliament, and thousands took to the streets in support, over a controversial China-Taiwan trade pact. In contrast to recent convictions over a similar demonstration in Hong Kong in 2019, the Sunflower Movement was a success and has had a lasting impact on the political involvement of young Taiwanese people. According to a student who attended the demonstrations with her parents in 2014, “[the Sunflower Movement] showed young people the power we hold when we come together for a common cause.”
UK relaxes rules for Hong Kong migrants ahead of new security law: Canada and the UK report an uptick in interest in immigration from Hong Kong residents following news about the new Article 23 national security law. The UK has softened restrictions for British National Overseas (BNO) passport holders in response to concerns over the new law.
Chinese-owned TikTok faces national security review in Canada, minister says: Canada announced that it has been conducting a national security review of Tiktok since September 2023, unrelated to the “Tiktok bill” making headlines in the United States.