HRIC Weekly Brief
November 12, 2025
Top News 头条
Last week, New York’s IndieChina Film Festival, an independent film festival scheduled for November 8-15, was abruptly cancelled over safety concerns. The Chinese authorities had targeted participants and even the organizer’s friends and family with harassment and threats, pointing to a clear case of transnational repression. The requests primarily came from directors based in China, who cited “personal reasons” for changing their mind about screening their films. Directors based outside China said that their families back home had been contacted by the Chinese authorities, a common way of applying pressure to people beyond its borders.
Meanwhile, the U.K. plans to investigate whether hundreds of Chinese-made buses can be controlled remotely by their manufacturer, amid increasing concerns over Beijing’s involvement in British infrastructure. The British Department for Transport and the National Cyber Security Centre are examining whether buses made by Yutong could be vulnerable to interference. Danish and Norwegian authorities are also following suit.
Law & Policy 法律与政策
Twenty Years of China’s Human Rights Lawyers: Walking the Straight Path, Keeping the Flame of Rule of Law Alive: HRIC has translated a striking longform piece on Chinese human rights lawyers by veteran journalist Jiang Xue, originally published in WOMEN我们 magazine, into English for the first time. “In the years when civic consciousness blossomed and rights defense movements began to emerge, China’s human rights lawyers stepped into the spotlight. Through individual cases, they challenged the existing legal system, explored rule of law and freedom, and ventured into the forbidden realm of political and faith-related cases.”
Revisions to China’s Cybersecurity Law: Strengthened Oversight and Alignment with Emerging Technologies: These revisions, the first since 2017, expand state support for AI development while tightening compliance obligations for network operators and critical information infrastructure. The amendment also brings the law into alignment with the Personal Information Protection Law and increases penalties for violations involving data handling, emergency response, prohibited content, and cross-border data transfers.
Cyber Security & Digital Rights 网络安全与数字权利
China, Surveillance, and Civil Society in Cyberspace: On October 27, HRIC Executive Director Zhou Fengsuo spoke at the 42nd Congress of the International Federation for Human Rights in Bogotá, Colombia. His comments addressed the duality of cyberspace in China: intense digital surveillance and censorship inhibits civil society online, and yet, the internet has also created new avenues for civil society to grow and thrive.
Two popular gay dating platforms removed from Apple app store in China: Blued and Finka, two of China’s most popular gay dating apps, were abruptly removed this week. Apple confirmed that it had removed the apps based “on an order from the Cyberspace Administration of China.”
A Media Loss for Macau, Fake China Protest Videos, and Brevity for the Battlefield: AI-generated protest videos on TikTok blur reality and create new challenges for real grassroots protests. Following the suspicious death of actor Yu Menglong and what appeared to be a government cover-up in September, AI-generated videos falsely depicting mass anti-government rallies circulated widely on the platform.
US software firm SAS exits China after 25 years, lays off about 400 staff: SAS has been a major employer in China for the last 17 years. Its exit marked the latest Western tech company to either scale down operations or exit from China.
Hongkongers may use facial recognition clearance at more mainland China checkpoints: The “intelligent exit-entry clearance” will cover Huanggang, Luohu, Liantang, Futian and Wenjindu ports in Shenzhen; the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and Hengqin ports; as well as the Pazhou Ferry Terminal and Nansha Passenger Port in Guangzhou.
Diaspora Community & Transnational Repression 海外社群和跨国镇压
Trump pardons former New York cop convicted of helping Beijing harass Chinese expatriate: Michael McMahon had been sentenced to 18 months in prison for his role in what a federal judge called “a campaign of transnational repression.” He insisted he was innocent, saying he was “unwittingly used” and said he was told he was working for a Chinese construction company.
China Steps Up Efforts Targeting Taiwanese Abroad?: According to Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, the number of Taiwanese detained by China has tripled this year. It is believed that many of these disappearances are primarily individuals held on political causes.
China-critical UK academics describe ‘extremely heavy’ pressure from Beijing: After last week’s shocking reports of a UK university halting research on Uyghur forced labor, some academics described experiencing “soft” or “indirect” pressure to self-censor and avoid research that could bring universities into conflict with China.
Protests erupt at the new Shein store in Paris with demonstrators ejected - video: Protestors gathered at Shein’s new store in Paris over allegations that Shein’s supply chain in China includes items produced by Uyghur forced labor. Last year, Shein claimed that it has a zero-tolerance policy over forced labor and had tightened its supplier policies.
Representatives of exiled Tibetans were invited to attend the annual conference of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China in Brussels.: A representative of the Central Tibetan Administration’s office in Brussels recently attended the annual conference of the Inter-Parliamentary Union on China Policy held at the European Parliament and called on representatives from participating countries to emulate the U.S. Tibet Policy and Support Act and the Tibet-China Conflict Resolution Act.
Human Rights Defenders & Civil Society 人权捍卫者与公民社会
Beijing Banner Protester: “Establish a New China That is Free, Humane, and Governed by Rule of Law”: The protest took place at the Taikoo Li Sanlitun mall in Beijing on October 25, shortly after the end of the Party’s Fourth Plenum. China Digital Times put the incident in context as the latest in a series of banner protests carried out in recent years by so-called “warriors” who have variously disappeared into custody, escaped the country, or remained unknown.
China’s Women’s Rights Lawyers, a Short Drama Phenomenon, and Taiwan’s Pride: In October, at the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women in Beijing, Xi Jinping declared that in China, women “truly hold up half the sky” and called for joint efforts to “accelerate the new process of women’s all-round development.” However, a crackdown on women’s right defenders and organizations mean that many now operate underground or have disbanded entirely. Meanwhile, popular short-form dramas present patriarchal marriage structures repackaged for a modern audience.
杨晖：对锡安教会牧者、同工被拘留、搜查过程的暴力违法等行为第一阶段控告的报告 [Yang Hui: Report on the First Phase of the Allegations Regarding the Violence and Illegal Acts During the Detention and Search of Zion Church Pastors and Colleagues]: Yang Hui, a Christian and former lawyer, describes violent and illegal acts by the authorities during their recent crackdown on Zion Church pastors.
Tibetan woman Gonpo Gyaltsen jumped from a building in Lhasa after being prevented from seeking justice for her brother, and was injured in the process.: For years, Tibetan woman Gonpo Gyaltsen used various methods to seek justice for her brother, Dorje Tashi, who was sentenced to life imprisonment. In August of this year, she was beaten by police and had her freedom of movement restricted during a peaceful protest in Lhasa, Tibet, after which she attempted to take her own life.
获刑14年的维吾尔族作家、翻译家艾合麦提江·居麦的案情及简历 [The case and resume of Uyghur writer and translator Aihmaitijiang Juma, who was sentenced to 14 years in prison.]: Aihmaitijiang Juma’s sentence is expected to run until 2033, but his current whereabouts are unknown.
Ex-Hong Kong lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting acquitted in 2019 Legislative Council scuffle trial: The court determined that there was insufficient evidence for the prosecution’s argument that Lam Cheuk-ting had conspired with other opposition lawmakers to disrupt the meeting. Lam is currently serving an almost seven-year jail term over a national security case.
Hong Kong judge grants closed-door hearing to 3 men accused of posing as nat. sec police – report: This case marks the first instance in which the closed-door hearing rule under Article 23 was invoked since the legislation was passed in March 2024.
Hong Kong top court denies Portuguese citizen final chance to appeal for shorter nat. security sentence: Joseph John’s appeal for a shorter sentence at the Court of Final Appeal was shot down without a hearing because of the “Rule 7” order, which dismisses appeal bids deemed to have no reasonable grounds.
2 men arrested for allegedly stealing and damaging posters promoting ‘patriots only’ legislative election: A 45-year-old man was apprehended for alleged theft and criminal damage after nine posters that were put up outside a building in To Kwa Wan disappeared. Separately, another 71-year-old man was arrested in connection with two damaged LegCo election posters found on the ground of the Tsing Luk Street pedestrian footbridge in Tsing Yi.
Related: 4 nabbed for allegedly damaging Hong Kong ‘patriots only’ legislative poll posters, campaign flag.
China’s Reach & Internal Control 中国: 内控与外扩
The Influence Machine: Inviting foreign influencers to travel in China on promotional or united front itineraries, and collaborating with Chinese content creators in the process, has long been a standard official tactic. While in the past these tours were most often organized by local tourism or united front departments, they have now become part of a comprehensive national strategy.
Beyond Blue and White: Former Global Times editor Hu Xijin, historically known as a nationalist and pro-CCP voice among Chinese commentators, warned that official “blue background” statements, or official notices, are replacing actual journalism, marginalizing journalists and weakening society’s resilience, and therefore undermining China’s ability to communicate effectively during crises.
Hong Kong’s ‘patriots only’ legislative race draws 161 nominees as 35 current lawmakers bow out: 107 are new contenders for a seat in the 90-person chamber. All nominees must now be vetted by the Candidate Eligibility Review Committee.
Hong Kong director appeals for censorship office to ‘release’ film after approval delays: Kiwi Chow has made an open appeal to the censorship office to “release” his Taiwan-produced film, a 2019 protest documentary that premiered at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival, citing months-long delays in the movie’s approval.
International Responses 国际反应
Trump brought up jailed media mogul Jimmy Jai’s case in meeting with China’s Xi ‘as he said he would’: Trump did not discuss a specific deal to free Lai, but spoke more broadly about concerns surrounding Lai’s health and well-being after his lengthy trial on national security charges.
Law reviews based on security plans: official: Taiwan is currently reviewing at least 21 laws which may be revised as part of Taiwanese president Lai Ching-te’s strategy aimed at countering Chinese threats to Taiwan’s sovereignty.
Taiwan vice-president presses case at EU parliament for joint efforts to counter China: In an unusual move, Taiwan VP Bi-Khim Hsiao urged the European parliament to “support [Taiwan’s] democracy in the face of growing threats by China.” In response, China accused the EU of allowing “separatist activities” to be carried out in the parliament building.
Japan and China exchange barbs after PM Takaichi’s remarks over Taiwan: Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi had said that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could constitute “a survival-threatening situation” for Japan requiring the use of force.
It's interesting how remote bus control realy reveals a new layer of concern.