HRIC Weekly Brief
December 16, 2025
Top News 头条
Hong Kong publisher and pro-democracy advocate Jimmy Lai’s high-profile, two-year-long national security trial came to a close on Monday, as the court found him guilty of “two counts of conspiring with foreign forces to threaten national security and one count of conspiracy to publish seditious material.” Now, over five years since Lai’s arrest, he faces the possibility of life in prison pending his sentencing in the new year. Human Rights in China strongly condemns the guilty verdict by a three-judge panel designated under the 2020 National Security Law, a travesty of justice and violation of international human rights law that marks the dismantling of Hong Kong’s once-respected legal system. Notably, a significant portion of the evidence against Lai comes from before the law he is charged under was even introduced. This retrospective application of the law against ordinary journalistic activities such as publishing articles, communicating with foreign audiences, and calling for accountability only serves to demonstrate the political nature of the trial and its true purpose: to silence civil society in Hong Kong.
After the verdict was announced, civil society groups, lawmakers, activists, and governments—including the UK, EU, and Australia—vehemently criticized the conviction and called once again for Lai’s release. In the U.K., a joint letter from over 30 organizations urged PM Keir Starmer to defend Lai. U.S. president Trump also confirmed that he had asked Xi for Lai’s release, though did not specify when the request was made.
Also on Monday, Guan Heng, a Chinese asylum seeker who documented the existence of Uyghur concentration camps at great personal risk, appeared in U.S. immigration court for a hearing pending a decision on his asylum case. (Although Guan applied for asylum immediately after entering the United States, a years-long backlog meant that he had not yet been given an interview by the time he was detained by ICE in August.) After Human Rights in China published his incredible story last Friday, an outpouring of public concern, lawmaker intervention, and media coverage over the weekend led the judge to delay the final decision and schedule a second hearing for January 12, 2026. DHS now suggests deporting Guan to Uganda instead of China; however, as Uganda is a country that has close ties with China, Guan’s attorney says that it is “more likely than not” that he would be repatriated to China regardless. Now, Guan will spend the holidays in detention while advocates continue to push for his release.
Law & Policy 法律与政策
Annual Compliance Requirements for Foreign NGOs in China: Overseas NGOs operating in China are required to provide detailed explanations of their programmatic work and funding to a “supervisory unit” and undergo an annual inspection, as required by the Law on the Administration of Activities of Overseas NGOs in the Chinese Mainland.
Guidelines for the Establishment of Minors’ Modes for the Mobile Internet: The guidelines provide content-moderation requirements for “minors’ mode” and lay out default time restrictions, now with some ability for parents to adjust time limits. Specifically, online platforms and app creators must “Encourage and support the creation, reproduction, publication, and dissemination of online information that carries forward the Core Socialist Values and advanced socialist culture, revolutionary culture, and the exceptional traditional Chinese culture; solidifies the sense of community among the Chinese people, cultivates minors feelings for their home country and their good moral character…”
Cyber Security & Digital Rights 网络安全与数字权利
The “Great Tower Rush”: A Digital “Suicide Squad” Counterstrike by China’s Dissidents: A fierce, decentralized digital uprising has recently erupted within the confines of China’s Great Firewall. From Douyin to Bilibili, Chinese netizens are throwing themselves into a form of digital protest known as the Great Tower Rush (大冲塔运动). Relying on strength in numbers and a range of strategies for avoiding detection by censors, wave after wave of netizens are daring to post direct criticism of the Chinese government, even calling for Xi to step down.
Trump clears way for Nvidia to sell powerful AI chips to China: Nvidia’s H200 chips were previously banned from sale in China over U.S. national security concerns, including worry over China’s global cyberattack capabilities. In a highly unusual move, the U.S. government will receive 25% of Nvidia’s proceeds from sales.
Qwen in Uganda; A Self-Driving Car Accident; China’s SE Asia Expansion: Guangxi’s China-ASEAN AI Innovation Cooperation Center has expanded to Laos, Malaysia, and Indonesia as part of the province’s efforts to become the main gateway for Chinese AI products in Southeast Asia. Also: a HelloAuto robo-taxi struck two pedestrians in Hunan.
Translations, on “Lessons Learned” from Kunming Railway Accident: “We’ve Heard These Promises Too Often”: Online commentators criticized the Kunming Luoyang railway station’s response to one of their trains striking and killing 11 railway workers, pointing out the brief, bland tone and focus on resuming operations in “an orderly manner.”
Fears are growing that Chinese-made electronics could leave the US in the dark during a cyber attack: Many U.S. energy companies rely on Chinese-made “inverters,” small devices commonly found in solar panels, household appliances, and electric vehicle chargers. Some experts say that these devices could be accessed and shut off remotely, which would put entire regions at risk of blackouts.
Diaspora Community & Transnational Repression 海外社群和跨国镇压
Sexually explicit letters about exiled Hong Kong activists sent to UK and Australian addresses: Letters originating from Macau and Hong Kong were sent to neighbors of exiled Hong Kong activists Carmen Lau and Ted Hui, containing AI-generated sexual images of Lau and Hui’s wife and invitations to visit their addresses for sex work. The letters, an escalation of transnational repression attempts against the two and a clear example of the dangers faced by women activists, left Lau “terrified” and Hui’s wife “speechless.” The letters included Lau’s full former address and the address of a random Adelaide resident, who said he had never heard of Hui.
Related: Hong Kong activist ‘terrified’ as sexually explicit deepfake images sent to UK neighbours.
A Chinese official exposed his boss. Now in Texas, he’s hunted by Beijing - with help from US tech: As vice mayor of Jixi, Li Chuanliang was horrified to discover the extent of corruption within Chinese politics, from the extensive misappropriation of funds by his boss, the mayor, to the misuse of surveillance technology against political enemies and regular citizens who dared to protest. He reported the misconduct, and his boss was eventually arrested. But when he later spoke out against the Party, he was himself accused of corruption and became the target of extensive stalking and surveillance across continents.
中共西藏侨联大会强调“政治任务”，引导旅外藏人“融入中国叙事” [The CPC Tibet Overseas Chinese Federation Congress emphasized “political tasks” and guided overseas Tibetans to “integrate into the Chinese narrative.”]: As part of their efforts to exert influence over overseas Tibetan populations, the Chinese authorities recently convened a conference in Lhasa, called the “Xizang [(Tibet)] Overseas Chinese Federation Conference,” aimed at strengthening the “management” of Tibetans returning from abroad and pressuring Tibetans to promote China’s overseas interests.
Human Rights Defenders & Civil Society 人权捍卫者与公民社会
Tricked, abducted and abused: Inside China’s schools for ‘rebellious’ teens: A BBC investigation has uncovered instances of young people being abducted and brought to correctional institutions where they often receive no education while facing physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. A network of at least ten schools promises correction of young people’s “disobedience, internet addiction, teenage dating and depression, as well as gender and sexual identity.” Parents pay high tuition prices to these harmful institutions in part due to societal pressure to have “academically successful children.” While many of these schools have been shut down, they frequently re-open in new areas under new names.
China: End Long-Term Imprisonment of Human Rights Defenders: The Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders (CHRD) urged the Chinese government to end its long-term imprisonment of human rights defenders and highlighted ten prominent activists still fighting for their freedom.
Prominent Tibetan Lama Chogtrul Dorje Ten Arrested By Chinese Authorities: Chogtrul Dorje Ten, head of a monastery in Chikdril (Jigzhi) County and founder of the Dorje Ten Ethnic Vocational School, has been arrested, and his charges and current location are unknown. Despite complying with Chinese law, the Dorje Ten Ethnic Vocational School has since been closed and its students sent home. This marks the most recent effort by the CCP to shut down vocational schools in Tibet.
Political commentator remanded in custody after being charged with revealing details of nat. sec probe: Wong Kwok-ngon, known by his pen name Wong On-yin, is the first to be prosecuted for the offense of disclosing details of a national security investigation in Hong Kong. This offense was added to Hong Kong’s national security laws in May, and the charges against Wong include “intention to incite hatred against the central government and the city’s authorities” through “seditious” videos and commentary posted on YouTube. Due to his arrest, Wong was prevented from attending a press conference on the devastating Wang Fuk Court fire, which was subsequently cancelled after a host of speakers were taken in by national security police.
Translations: Enthusiasts Fear Tightening Grip on Crosstalk Stage Comedy: Comedy enthusiasts fear that “crosstalk,” a popular form of fast-paced stage comedy, may soon be reduced to pre-approved politically safe scripts after a prominent comic was summoned by the Beijing Xicheng District Bureau of Culture and Tourism over allegedly criticizing state-owned stage troupes.
Hong Kong’s last major opposition party disbands amid Chinese pressure: After being threatened with “serious consequences” such as potential arrest, the Hong Kong Democratic Party (DP) voted to disband. The DP has previously been at the center of pushing for democratic reforms and has historically enjoyed electoral success. However, years of pressure from the CCP, including the jailing of multiple senior DP members and the implementation of “patriots only” elections, has resulted in an overwhelming majority of its members calling for its dissolution.
2 charged with subversion after earlier arrests over illegal weapons training: After several individuals came under investigation for visiting the memorial site for the Wang Fuk Court fire wearing dark clothes reminiscent of the 2019 protests, a group of nine individuals were arrested for conducting “unlawful drills,” including combat exercises. As of Monday, two 24 and 25-year-old men have been formally charged with “suspicion of conspiring to commit subversion” under Hong Kong’s national security laws.
The Fire of the Century: Despite the Hong Kong government’s crackdown on civil society in response to the Wang Fuk Court fire, a group of Hong Kongers still came together to self-organize and provide mutual aid in the wake of tragedy.
China’s Reach & Internal Control 中国: 内控与外扩
Former Chinese senior banker Bai Tianhui executed for taking US$155 million in bribes: As part of President Xi Jinping’s ongoing crackdown on bribery, Bai Tianhui’s crimes were deemed “extremely serious” by the Supreme People’s Court of China and he was subsequently executed. While death sentences are often commuted to life in prison in China, Bai has joined a host of individuals receiving especially harsh treatment for high-profile financial crimes in recent years.
Translation: Residence-permit Stamps for ADHD Patients – “It’s How We Treat Pigs, Right?”: In Shanxi, some hospitals are requiring ADHD patients to receive a stamp in their hukou (household residency) booklets reading “Class 1 Psychiatric Drug Prescribed,” which patients say could negatively impact their employment and social prospects. Some expressed further concern that ADHD patients are a “test” group, as a relatively small and misunderstood portion of society, and that the use of designation stamps for increased social control may increase in the future.
China defends jailing Chinese-Swedish bookseller Gui Minhai after UN group urges release: The detention of Gui Minhai, who published unfavorable books on Chinese political leaders, has been deemed “arbitrary” in an official opinion adopted by a group of United Nations human rights experts. These experts have called for his immediate release and compensation.
Related: Opinions adopted by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention at its 103rd session, 25–29 August 2025.
China sanctions retired Japanese general over Taiwan ‘collusion’: Shigeru Iwasaki, a Japanese advisor to Taiwan, has been banned from entering China. In continuation of the ongoing row between China and Japan, Beijing’s foreign ministry has stated that Iwasaki has violated the “one-China principle” by colluding with “‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces.”
International Responses 国际反应
Statement of the EU Delegation in China on the International Human Rights Day: In a statement, the EU Delegation to China stated, “We reiterate our concern for the enforced disappearance since 1995 of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama. . . The selection of religious leaders should happen without government interference and in accordance with religious norms, including for the succession of the Dalai Lama.”
Related: Fake Panchen reasserts China’s claim over Dalai Lama reincarnation.
UN troubled by Hong Kong clampdown after deadly Tai Po fire: The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, expressed concern over how the Hong Kong national security laws are being weaponized against those calling for government accountability in the wake of the tragic Wang Fuk Court fire. Türk further emphasized that these security laws are not in full compliance with international human rights law and are eroding civic space in Hong Kong.
Appreciate how you connect verdict details to the larger dismantling of legal norms. What should outside governments prioritize next—targeted sanctions, quiet diplomacy, or sustained public pressure?
-Noble