Representative Christopher H. Smith, Chair
Senator Jeff Merkley, Cochair
Campaign of Forced Evictions in Beijing Contravenes International Human Rights Standards
March 14, 2018
On November 18, 2017, a fire killed 19 people in a neighborhood in Beijing municipality. Two days later, the Beijing government launched a 40-day campaign to “inspect” and “rectify” fire hazards. What followed were large-scale forced evictions and demolitions in neighborhoods across Beijing. Residents reported being forced to leave with three days’ notice or less. Media and advocacy organizations estimated tens of thousands were affected, primarily Chinese migrants who were not registered residents of Beijing under the Chinese government’s household registration (hukou) system. As events unfolded, affected residents voiced their concerns to journalists, and in some cases attempted to confront government officials. Local organizations and individuals offered assistance to evictees, as Internet users across China criticized the evictions. The government responded by restricting domestic reporting on the evictions, censoring online discussion, restricting local groups providing aid to evictees, and detaining at least one individual for posting videos relating to the evictions online. Many observers linked the eviction campaign to the government’s long-term plans to cap the population of Beijing. Experts, however, warned that reducing the number of migrants would increase the cost of living in Beijing, and that the evictions could harm social stability in the long run. Actions taken by Chinese government officials enforcing the eviction campaign in Beijing contravene both international standards and Chinese law.
Mass Evictions Follow Deadly Fire in Beijing Migrant Neighborhood
On the evening of November 18, 2017, a fire broke out in an apartment building in Xinjian No. 2 village, Xihongmen township, Daxing district, Beijing,[1] killing 19 people and injuring 8.[2] Investigators reportedly found that the apartment building had been subdivided without government approval, and that workers without proper certifications had installed electrical wiring.[3] Of the 19 victims, 17 were migrants, meaning they were registered in localities outside of Beijing under the Chinese government’s household registration (hukou) system.[4] Eight victims were children.[5] The next day, city officials visited the site of the fire and convened a meeting during which Beijing Communist Party Secretary Cai Qi said the municipal government would launch a campaign to inspect buildings for fire hazards, investigating “every home and every village.”[6] On November 20, the Beijing government officially launched a 40-day campaign of “major inspections, major sweeps, and major rectifications.”[7]
What followed was a campaign of large-scale forced evictions and demolitions in migrant neighborhoods across Beijing.[8] Videos posted online showed blocks of demolished buildings as well as police kicking in doors, smashing store windows, and destroying evictees’ belongings.[9] Affected residents reported being forced to leave their homes in under three days,[10] with some given a few hours’ notice or less,[11] despite freezing temperatures in the capital.[12] Authorities reportedly cut water and electricity to force residents out of their homes,[13] and evictees reported being unable to recover the balance of their rent payments and security deposits.[14]
The Commission did not observe official reports on the number of people evicted in Beijing, but international media estimated that tens of thousands—mostly migrants from outside Beijing—were affected.[15] 37.2 percent of Beijing’s long-term residents do not have a Beijing hukou according to government statistics.[16] The New York Times reported that the eviction and demolition campaign also targeted some schools serving migrant children.[17] In late December, officials in Yanjiao township, Sanhe city, Langfang municipality, Hebei province—which neighbors Beijing—evicted residents of several apartment buildings housing migrants.[18] Despite the government’s campaign to investigate and prevent fire hazards,[19] Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported a second deadly fire in Chaoyang district of Beijing on December 13, followed by additional forced evictions.[20] On January 1, 2018, RFA further reported that authorities in Beijing and Hebei continued to conduct forced evictions.[21] On January 24, Beijing municipal officials announced plans to demolish an additional 40 square kilometers of “illegal structures” in 2018.[22]
Migrants and Locals Express Frustration, Protest Treatment
As events unfolded in November and December, affected migrant workers voiced their concerns to journalists, and in some cases attempted to confront government officials over the mass evictions. Government censorship directives limited local media coverage of the eviction campaign,[23] but many migrants shared their dissatisfaction regarding the evictions with a variety of international news media outlets.[24] Speaking to foreign media can carry significant risks for Chinese citizens, including harassment and even arrest.[25] Reports also emerged of migrants attempting to confront local officials over their evictions.[26] In one protest in Feijia village in Chaoyang district, a large group gathered outside a government office chanting: “Violent evictions violate human rights.”[27] In addition, RFA reported that over 100 Beijing hukou-holding residents of Xinjian village blocked a road to protest the eviction campaign, which they asserted had left them homeless.[28]
Locals Organize Assistance for Evictees
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), companies, and individuals began offering assistance to displaced migrants as news and video of the eviction campaign spread online. According to international media reports, many Beijing-based NGOs used social media to coordinate volunteers, offer temporary housing and other forms of assistance, and voice their opposition to the eviction campaign.[29] A real estate company in neighboring Hebei province reportedly offered evictees three months’ free housing, while the online retailer JD.com offered temporary housing and moving assistance to its employees.[30] One detailed account posted to the social media platform WeChat described a local group of cycling enthusiasts who, after helping one of their evicted members move, posted a message on social media offering to help others.[31] One group member described being inundated with phone calls, both from evictees requesting help and individuals offering assistance.[32] He noted that he also received calls from across China thanking him for helping evicted migrants.[33]
Public Opinion Backlash
Chinese Internet users engaged in online debates and criticism of the eviction campaign as video showing evictions, demolitions, and displaced migrant workers spread quickly on social media.[34] According to Chinese and international media, domestic Internet users widely shared images and video of the migrant worker evictions on social media.[35] Freedom House observed that online debate surrounding the evictions reached levels “rarely seen since the 2011 Wenzhou train crash,”[36] despite increasingly strict censorship and control of the Internet in the years since that event.[37] Internet users reportedly criticized the evictions and the harsh tactics government officials employed,[38] and social media users shared personal stories as well as social and legal analyses.[39] Internet users also criticized as derogatory the use of the term “low-end population” (diduan renkou) in local government documents to describe the migrants.[40] In response, an unnamed “relevant responsible person” (xiangguan fuzeren) from the Beijing Administration of Work Safety stated in an interview with the state-run news agency Xinhua that there was “no basis” to online reports that the government was evicting the “low-end population” and denied the use of this term.[41] Internet users reportedly responded by sharing images of local government documents from Beijing using the term, including documents reading “control the low-end population” and “cleanup and rectify the low-end population . . ..”[42]
Groups of scholars, lawyers, and others organized and circulated online at least three open letters criticizing the evictions. One letter cosigned by a group of intellectuals called the evictions “illegal, unconstitutional, and vicious,” and called on the Beijing government to end the forced expulsion of migrants and offer emergency assistance and compensation to those affected.[43] Another letter organized by a group of alumni from Renmin University of China called on the government to end “brutal” evictions, protect migrants’ fundamental rights, and establish shelters for those displaced by the fire and subsequent evictions.[44] On December 13, another open letter with over 160 signatures called on Beijing Party Secretary Cai Qi to resign, arguing that the consequences of the “violent evictions” were “severe” and had “damaged relations between the Party and the people.”[45] In addition, on December 19, a group of scholars and lawyers publicly submitted a request to the National People’s Congress Standing Committee challenging the constitutionality of the Beijing government’s eviction campaign.[46]
Party and Government Respond With Conciliatory Gestures, Censorship, and Repression
Following the initial backlash, on November 27, Beijing Communist Party Secretary Cai Qi convened a meeting of district-level committee secretaries to discuss public safety concerns in Beijing, stressing that the “safety and stability of the capital can’t be over-emphasized.”[47] He stated that local governments should “pay attention to means and methods” while carrying out the eviction campaign and avoid “simplification” and “impatience.”[48] On December 12, Cai met with a group of service workers and noted the contributions that migrants have made to Beijing.[49] In January 2018, Daxing district leader Wang Youguo said the district government planned to construct dormitories to provide housing to migrant workers.[50]
Beyond its public statements, the government also responded by restricting domestic reporting on the evictions, censoring online discussion, and restricting civil society groups that had offered to help evictees. China Digital Times published a leaked censorship directive instructing web portals and media outlets not to post articles or independently report on the evictions.[51] Authorities reportedly cut a live broadcast of an awards ceremony in Taiwan when a film director mentioned the term “low-end population.”[52] The microblog Weibo blocked searches for “low-end population,” and the social media platform WeChat deleted posts using the term.[53] Censorship of Weibo posts was reportedly similar to the heightened levels seen during the 19th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party in October 2017.[54] Authorities also censored open letters[55] and other articles posted online discussing the evictions,[56] as well as some of the messages civil society groups posted offering assistance to evicted migrants.[57] According to the Hong Kong-based newspaper South China Morning Post, in one case, police not only required an NGO to remove a post offering help, but also shut down the organization.[58]
Authorities detained an artist for sharing videos of the evictions as well as six others, reportedly for helping the artist flee. The Beijing-based artist Hua Yong filmed demolished neighborhoods,[59] interviews with evictees,[60] and local Beijing hukou-holders’ disputes with local officials,[61] posting the footage to social media.[62] After local officials attempted to stop Hua from filming a meeting, residents helped Hua to flee the area.[63] On or around December 10, authorities detained at least six residents who had helped Hua to leave,[64] and on December 15, authorities detained Hua in Tianjin municipality.[65] Authorities released Hua on bail on December 18,[66] but as of March 2018, the Commission could not confirm the status of the six detained Beijing residents.
Context: The Hukou System, Urbanization Policies, and Forced Evictions
International media estimated that the eviction campaign launched in November 2017 in Beijing affected tens of thousands of Beijing residents, primarily migrants with household registrations—or hukou—from localities outside of Beijing.[67] The hukou system, established in 1958,[68] classified Chinese citizens as being urban or rural and tied them to a locality.[69] Provision of certain government services such as education is tied to one’s hukou location, which is inherited from one’s parents.[70] The government has begun to reform the hukou system to gradually eliminate the urban-rural distinction and allow some migrants to obtain hukou in smaller cities.[71] Nevertheless, the government continues to use the hukou system to restrict internal migration,[72] and obtaining hukou in large cities such as Beijing remains difficult.[73] Chinese sociologist Sun Liping[74] noted that due to uneven development across different regions in China, both rural hukou holders and urban hukou holders from smaller cities often migrate to large cities for work.[75] According to Beijing municipal government statistics, 37.2 percent of Beijing’s 21.7 million long-term residents do not have a Beijing hukou.[76]
Some observers viewed the eviction campaign that began in November 2017 as part of the Beijing government’s long-term plans to cap the population of Beijing.[77] In September 2017, Beijing municipal authorities finalized the Beijing General City Plan (2016–2035),[78] which capped Beijing’s population at 23 million by 2020.[79] Chinese media noted that prior to the November 2017 fire, the government had already notified residents in Daxing that their homes would be demolished, and that the fire seemed to have accelerated existing demolition plans.[80] In the months leading up to the fire, Beijing authorities had reportedly demolished schools for migrants’ children[81] and markets and shops where many migrants work.[82] Beijing is not the only large city to set population limits; for example, in January 2018, authorities in Shanghai municipality similarly issued a plan to cap that city’s population at 25 million by 2035.[83] Also in January, a State Council Standing Committee meeting discussed encouraging migrant workers to return to the countryside to start businesses as part of the government’s development strategy for rural areas.[84]
This is not the first time that Chinese authorities have engaged in forced evictions in the name of urban development. International rights organizations documented mass forced evictions in the runup to the 2008 Beijing Olympics and Expo 2010 in Shanghai municipality.[85] In 2014, the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights wrote that it was “seriously concerned” over reports of forced evictions in China, and urged China “to ensure that any relocation necessary for city renewal is carried out after prior consultation with the affected individuals . . ..”[86]
Potential Social, Economic, and Political Impacts
As anecdotal reports emerged of the immediate social and economic effects of the Beijing eviction campaign, some scholars warned the campaign could have negative economic and political consequences in the medium- to long-term. The Commission did not observe any reliable estimates of how many of the evicted migrants had actually left Beijing. Reports from international media portrayed a mixed picture, with some evicted migrants reporting they would leave the city,[87] while others planned to stay because Beijing had better job opportunities.[88] For those migrants who remained, many reported sudden and significant increases in rent for apartments in Beijing.[89] Moreover, the Chinese media company Caijing reported that Beijing residents who rented apartments to migrants have lost their incomes due to the evictions, and businesses with migrant clientele have lost revenue or closed.[90] Other media reported service interruptions and increased prices for deliveries,[91] as most delivery drivers in Beijing are migrants.[92] Economists warned that an exodus of the migrants who typically fill service industry jobs would increase the cost of living in Beijing.[93] Some Chinese scholars further warned that the evictions could harm social stability in the long run.[94]
Campaign of Forced Evictions Contravenes International Human Rights Standards and Domestic Law
Actions taken by Chinese government officials enforcing the eviction campaign in Beijing contravene both international standards and Chinese law. Restrictions on movement and discrimination arising from the hukou system contravene international human rights standards guaranteeing freedom of residence.[95] In addition, the reported censorship and restrictions on the press and civil society during the eviction campaign violate international human rights standards guaranteeing freedom of expression[96] and association.[97]
- Forced Evictions and International Standards. Article 11(1) of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), which China has signed and ratified, states that everyone has the right “to an adequate standard of living . . ., including adequate food, clothing and housing . . ..”[98] In 1991, the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (the Committee), stated that the “human right to adequate housing” derived from article 11(1) of the ICESCR[99] requires that individuals have “legal protection against forced eviction, harassment and other threats,”[100] and that “instances of forced eviction are prima facie incompatible with the requirements of the [ICESCR].”[101] In 1997, the Committee further explicated the right to adequate housing vis-à-vis forced evictions,[102] stating that when evictions are necessary, those affected should be consulted and given reasonable notice, evictions should not take place during bad weather or at night,[103] and evictees should not be “rendered homeless.”[104]
- Forced Evictions and Chinese Law.[105] Article 43 of the Administrative Enforcement Law states that officials may not force individuals to comply with administrative decisions by using methods such as turning off their water or electricity.[106] Article 44 further states that when forced demolitions of illegal structures are necessary, authorities should first provide notification and give the affected party time to demolish the structures themselves, as well as provide time for the party to apply for legal redress.[107]
- The Hukou System and International Standards. Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) guarantees the right to freedom of residence,[108] and Article 12 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) similarly states that all lawful residents of a state have a right to choose their residence.[109] Article 2 of the UDHR and Article 2 of the ICCPR both prohibit discrimination in the protection of these rights on the basis of “national or social origin, . . . birth or other status.”[110] In 2005 and again in 2014, the UN Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights noted its concern over discrimination on the basis of hukou status, and called on the Chinese government to eliminate the hukou system altogether.[111]
[1] “List of Victims of Fire in Daxing, Beijing Announced, Police Criminally Detain 18” [Beijing daxing huozai yunanzhe mingdan gongbu jingfang xingju 18 ren], People’s Daily, 20 November 17 (http://society.people.com.cn/n1/2017/1120/c1008-29657619.html); “Launch of Citywide Safety and Hidden Dangers Major Investigation, Major Cleaning, and Major Rectification” [Quanshi kaizhan anquan yinhuan da paicha da qingli da zhengzhi], Beijing News, 20 November 17 (http://epaper.bjnews.com.cn/html/2017-11/20/content_702298.htm?div=0); Zheping Huang, “What You Need To Know About Beijing’s Crackdown on Its ‘Low-End Population,’” Quartz, 27 November 17 (https://qz.com/1138395/low-end-population-what-you-need-to-know-about-chinas-crackdown-on-migrant-workers/); Benjamin Haas, “China: ‘Ruthless’ Campaign To Evict Beijing’s Migrant Workers Condemned,” Guardian, 26 November 17 (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/27/china-ruthless-campaign-evict-beijings-migrant-workers-condemned).
[2] “List of Victims of Fire in Daxing, Beijing Announced, Police Criminally Detain 18” [Beijing daxing huozai yunanzhe mingdan gongbu jingfang xingju 18 ren], People’s Daily, 20 November 17 (http://society.people.com.cn/n1/2017/1120/c1008-29657619.html); “Launch of Citywide Safety and Hidden Dangers Major Investigation, Major Cleaning, and Major Rectification” [Quanshi kaizhan anquan yinhuan da paicha da qingli da zhengzhi], Beijing News, 20 November 17 (http://epaper.bjnews.com.cn/html/2017-11/20/content_702298.htm?div=0); Jiang Chenglong and Cui Jia, “Beijing Continues Its Safety Crackdown in Wake of Fire,” China Daily, 27 November 17 (http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2017-11/27/content_35042215.htm).
[3] “Arson Ruled Out in 11/18 Fire in Daxing, Beijing, 20 Individuals Criminally Detained” [Beijing daxing 11·18 huozai paichu renwei fanghuo xianyi 20 ren bei xingju], CCTV, reprinted in China News Service, 27 November 17 (www.chinanews.com/sh/2017/11-27/8386668.shtml); Jiang Chenglong and Cui Jia, “Beijing Continues Its Safety Crackdown in Wake of Fire,” China Daily, 27 November 17 (http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2017-11/27/content_35042215.htm).
[4] “List of Victims of Fire in Daxing, Beijing Announced, Police Criminally Detain 18” [Beijing daxing huozai yunanzhe mingdan gongbu jingfang xingju 18 ren], People’s Daily, 20 November 17 (http://society.people.com.cn/n1/2017/1120/c1008-29657619.html). For more information on migrant workers and China’s hukou system, see, e.g., China Labour Bulletin, “Migrant Workers and Their Children,” last visited 2 February 18 (http://www.clb.org.hk/content/migrant-workers-and-their-children); Mary Gallagher, Authoritarian Legality in China: Law, Workers, and the State (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2017), 2–4, 7–8, 12–13; Cara Wallis, “Hukou Reform and China’s Migrant Workers,” University of Nottingham, China Policy Institute: Analysis (blog), 10 October 16 (https://cpianalysis.org/2016/10/10/hukou-reform-and-chinas-migrant-workers/).
[5] “List of Victims of Fire in Daxing, Beijing Announced, Police Criminally Detain 18” [Beijing daxing huozai yunanzhe mingdan gongbu jingfang xingju 18 ren], People’s Daily, 20 November 17 (http://society.people.com.cn/n1/2017/1120/c1008-29657619.html).
[6] “Launch of Citywide Safety and Hidden Dangers Major Investigation, Major Cleaning, and Major Rectification” [Quanshi kaizhan anquan yinhuan da paicha da qingli da zhengzhi], Beijing News, 20 November 17 (http://epaper.bjnews.com.cn/html/2017-11/20/content_702298.htm?div=0).
[7] Beijing Administration of Work Safety Committee Circular on Launch of Special Campaign of Major Investigations, Major Cleanup, and Major Rectification of Safety Risks [Beijing shi anquan shengchan weiyuanhui guanyu kaizhan anquan yinhuan da paicha da qingli da zhengzhi zhuanxiang xingdong de tongzhi], issued 19 November 17, secs. 4, 6(3) (http://zhengce.beijing.gov.cn/library/192/33/50/438650/1294690/index.html).
[8] See, e.g., “Thousands of Migrant Workers in Beijing Forcibly Evicted, Resistance Mounted in at Least One Location,” China Change, 29 November 17 (https://chinachange.org/2017/11/30/thousands-of-migrant-workers-in-beijing-forcibly-evicted-resistance-mounted-in-at-least-one-location/); China Digital Times, “Sensitive Word of the Week: Low-end Population,” 30 November 17 (https://chinadigitaltimes.net/2017/11/sensitive-word-week-low-end-population/).
[9] See, e.g., Boxun Watch, “‘Chinese Exclusion’ Inside China, Beijing Violently Evicts ‘Low-End Population’” [Jingnei “pai hua” beijing baoli qugan “diduan renkou”] [Video file], YouTube, 24 November 17 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGmY2VlKvj4); Boxun Watch, “‘Chinese Exclusion’ Inside China, Beijing Violently Evicts ‘Low-End Population’ (2)” [Jingnei “pai hua” beijing baoli qugan “diduan renkou” (2)] [Video file], YouTube, 26 November 17 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9RQLWLwnO8); RFA Chinese, “Beijing’s ‘Low-End Population’: ‘We Are Also Chinese, Why Do They Treat Us Like This?’” [Beijing “diduan renkou”: “women ye shi zhongguoren, weishenme yao zheme duidai women?”] [Video file], YouTube, 28 November 17 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHG_IQ6m31c). See also videos posted to Beijing artist Hua Yong’s Twitter account (@Huayong798) on November 29 and 30, 2017 (https://twitter.com/HuaYong798).
[10] Wang Shan, “Investigation—Displaced Individuals After the Major Fire: Where Should We Go?” [Diaocha—da huo zhihou de yixiangren: women gai dao nali qu?], Life Week, 27 November 17 (http://m.lifeweek.com.cn/m/shareArticle.do?id=7787); Huang Ziyi and Li Rongde, “Thousands Evicted in Beijing Crackdown After Fatal Fire,” Caixin, 24 November 17 (https://www.caixinglobal.com/2017-11-24/thousands-evicted-in-beijing-crackdown-after-fatal-fire-101175899.html); Matt Rivers and Serenitie Wang, “Beijing Forces Migrant Workers From Their Homes in ‘Savage’ Demolitions,” CNN, 9 December 17 (http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/08/asia/china-migrant-workers-evictions-beijing/index.html).
[11] Emily Wang and Yi-Ling Liu, “Beijing Evictions of Migrant Workers Stir Widespread Anger,” Associated Press, 29 November 17 (https://apnews.com/42f22f38e05944e1b14def651e0422f0); Jun Mai, “‘They Came Banging and Kicking’: Beijing Airport Workers Swept Up in Fire Safety Crackdown,” South China Morning Post, 29 November 17 (http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2122006/they-came-banging-and-kicking-beijing-airport-workers); Benjamin Haas, “China: ‘Ruthless’ Campaign To Evict Beijing’s Migrant Workers Condemned,” Guardian, 26 November 17 (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/27/china-ruthless-campaign-evict-beijings-migrant-workers-condemned).
[12] Benjamin Haas, “China: ‘Ruthless’ Campaign To Evict Beijing’s Migrant Workers Condemned,” Guardian, 26 November 17 (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/27/china-ruthless-campaign-evict-beijings-migrant-workers-condemned); Freedom House, “China Media Bulletin: Holiday Crackdown, Beijing Netizen Outcries, Skype App Removal (Issue No. 124),” December 2017 (https://freedomhouse.org/china-media/china-media-bulletin-holiday-crackdown-beijing-netizen-outcries-skype-app-removal-issue-no-124).
[13] Huang Ziyi and Li Rongde, “Thousands Evicted in Beijing Crackdown After Fatal Fire,” Caixin, 24 November 17 (https://www.caixinglobal.com/2017-11-24/thousands-evicted-in-beijing-crackdown-after-fatal-fire-101175899.html); Li Rongde and Yuan Suwen, “In Rare Move, State Media Publishes Veiled Disapproval of Beijing's Fire Safety Campaign,” Caixin, 27 November 17 (https://www.caixinglobal.com/2017-11-27/in-rare-move-state-media-publishes-veiled-disapproval-of-beijings-fire-safety-campaign-101176915.html); Haowai Zhi Wai (wangjxclub), “In Dreams I Did Not Know I Was a Visitor—Swan Rescue Team and People in the Cold Night” [Meng li bu zhi shen shi ke—tian’e jiuyuan dui yu han ye li de ren], WeChat post, 27 November 28 (https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/UQH29WS32IVAc-s2qHO8Aw).
[14] Hai Yuzhou, “Beijing Evictions: The Last Resident’s Last Night in Jinglin Apartments” [Beijing qiechu: jinglin gongyu zuihou yiye, zuihou yiren], Initium, 27 November 17 (https://theinitium.com/article/20171127-mainland-feature-wheretogo/); Haowai Zhi Wai (wangjxclub), “In Dreams I Did Not Know I Was a Visitor—Swan Rescue Team and People in the Cold Night” [Meng li bu zhi shen shi ke—tian’e jiuyuan dui yu han ye li de ren], WeChat post, 27 November 28 (https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/UQH29WS32IVAc-s2qHO8Aw). See also “Ripples From Major Beijing Fire, 100 Thousand Migrants Expelled From City” [Beijing da huo yubo dangyang quanshi 10 wan waidi ren bei zhu], Radio Free Asia, 23 November 17 (https://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/remove-11232017072505.html/ampRFA); Huang Ziyi and Li Rongde, “Thousands Evicted in Beijing Crackdown After Fatal Fire,” Caixin, 24 November 17 (https://www.caixinglobal.com/2017-11-24/thousands-evicted-in-beijing-crackdown-after-fatal-fire-101175899.html).
[15] “Ripples From Major Beijing Fire, 100 Thousand Migrants Expelled From City” [Beijing da huo yubo dangyang quanshi 10 wan waidi ren bei zhu], Radio Free Asia, 23 November 17 (https://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/remove-11232017072505.html/ampRFA); Chris Buckley, “Why Parts of Beijing Look Like a Devastated War Zone,” New York Times, 30 November 17 (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/30/world/asia/china-beijing-migrants.html); “Thousands of Migrant Workers in Beijing Forcibly Evicted, Resistance Mounted in at Least One Location,” China Change, 29 November 17 (https://chinachange.org/2017/11/30/thousands-of-migrant-workers-in-beijing-forcibly-evicted-resistance-mounted-in-at-least-one-location/); China Labour Bulletin, “Migrant Worker Families Face Eviction After 19 Die in Beijing Fire,” 23 November 17 (http://clb.org.hk/content/migrant-worker-families-face-eviction-after-19-die-beijing-fire).
[16] Beijing Municipal Bureau of Statistics and Survey Office of the National Bureau of Statistics in Beijing, “Beijing Municipality 2016 National Economic and Social Development Statistical Bulletin” [Beijing shi 2016 nian guomin jingji he shehui fazhan tongji gongbao], 25 February 17, sec. 1 (http://www.bjstats.gov.cn/zxfb/201702/t20170224_369411.html).
[17] Javier C. Hernández and Iris Zhao, “One Target in Beijing’s Migrant Crackdown: Schoolchildren,” New York Times, 24 December 17 (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/24/world/asia/china-schools-migrants.html).
[18] Shen Fan and Li Rongde, “Beijing’s Migrant Eviction Frenzy Spills Over to Hebei,” Caixin, 27 December 17; “Beijing ‘Low-End’ Campaign Spreads, Outsiders Violently Evicted From Sanhe, Hebei” [Beijing “diduan renkou” xingdong manyan hebei sanhe baoli qugan wailai renkou], Radio Free Asia, 30 December 17 (https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shehui/gf1-12302017134620.html).
[19] Beijing Administration of Work Safety Committee Circular on Launch of Special Campaign of Major Investigations, Major Cleanup, and Major Rectification of Safety Risks [Beijing shi anquan shengchan weiyuanhui guanyu kaizhan anquan yinhuan da paicha da qingli da zhengzhi zhuanxiang xingdong de tongzhi], issued 19 November 17, reprinted in Sina, 20 November 17 (http://news.sina.com.cn/c/nd/2017-11-20/doc-ifynwxum6834517.shtml).
[20] “After Fire in Beijing's Shibalidian Township, More Violent Evictions of the ‘Low-End Population,’ Citizens Jointly Urge Cai Qi To Resign” [Beijing shibalidian xiang huozai hou “diduan renkou” zai zao baoli quzhu gongmin lianshu duncu cai qi cizhi], Radio Free Asia, 14 December 17 (https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/yf1-12142017131428.html).
[21] “Chinese Artist Who Filmed Beijing’s Mass Evictions Now Faces Eviction Himself,” Radio Free Asia, 1 January 18.
[22] Wu Mengda and Ji Xiaobo, “Beijing: Plans To Demolish 40 Square Kilometers of Illegal Structures, Return 1600 Hectares to Natural Space in 2018” [Beijing: 2018 nian jihua chai wei 4000 wan pingfang mi huan lu 1600 gongqing], Xinhua, 24 January 18; “Beijing To Demolish Thousands of ‘Illegal Structures,’” BBC, 24 January 18.
[23] China Digital Times, “Minitrue: Control Coverage, Commentary on Evictions,” 28 November 17 (https://chinadigitaltimes.net/2017/11/minitrue-control-coverage-commentary-beijing-evictions/); “Ripples From Major Beijing Fire, 100 Thousand Migrants Expelled From City” [Beijing da huo yubo dangyang quanshi 10 wan waidi ren bei zhu], Radio Free Asia, 23 November 17 (https://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/remove-11232017072505.html/ampRFA).
[24] See, e.g., Tom Phillips, “The Gentrification of Beijing: Razing of Migrant Villages Spells End of China Dream,” Guardian, 7 December 17 (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/dec/08/beijing-gentrification-china-migrant-villages-destroyed); Chris Buckley, “Why Parts of Beijing Look Like a Devastated War Zone,” New York Times, 30 November 17 (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/30/world/asia/china-beijing-migrants.html); Anthony Kuhn, “For Decades, China’s Laborers Moved to Cities. Now They’re Being Forced Out,” NPR, 6 December 17 (https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2017/12/06/568315650/for-decades-chinas-laborers-moved-to-cities-now-they-re-being-forced-out).
[25] See, e.g., Jonah M. Kessel, “How China Used a Times Documentary as Evidence Against Its Subject,” New York Times, 10 January 18 (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/10/insider/tashi-wangchuk-documentary-china.html); Foreign Correspondents’ Club, Hong Kong, “Why It’s Tough Being a Journalist’s Source in China,” last visited 2 February 18 (https://www.fcchk.org/correspondent/why-its-tough-being-a-journalists-source-in-china/).
[26] Chris Buckley, “Why Parts of Beijing Look Like a Devastated War Zone,” New York Times, 30 November 17 (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/30/world/asia/china-beijing-migrants.html); Austin Ramzy, “Artist Flees Beijing After Filming Devastation of Mass Evictions,” New York Times, 12 December 17 (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/12/world/asia/china-beijing-migrants-eviction.html).
[27] Eva Dou, “Rare Protests in Beijing Condemn Forced Evictions,” Wall Street Journal, 10 December 17 (https://www.wsj.com/articles/rare-protests-in-beijing-condemn-forced-evictions-1512915082); Tom Phillips, “Hundreds Take Part in Rare Protest in Beijing Over Migrant Crackdown,” Guardian, 10 December 17 (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/dec/11/hundreds-take-part-rare-protest-beijing-migrant-crackdown).
[28] “Artist Hua Yong Who Reported on Daxing, Beijing, Fire, Escapes Beijing” [Baodao beijing daxing huozai zao soubu yishujia hua yong taoli beijing], Radio Free Asia, 9 December 17. For more information on the economic relationship between local hukou holders and migrant workers in China’s cities, see commentary by David Bandurski in “The Beijing Migrants Crackdown,” Asia Society, ChinaFile, 30 November 17 (http://www.chinafile.com/conversation/beijing-migrants-crackdown).
[29] “Chinese Intellectuals Jointly Demand Beijing End Evictions of Migrants” [Zhongguo zhishifenzi lianming yaoqiu beijing tingzhi qugan wailai renkou], Voice of America, 28 November 17 (https://www.voachinese.com/a/Chinese-intellectuals-urge-Beijing-stop-removing-migrate-workers-20171126/4137298.html); “Civil Society in Beijing Spontaneously Offer Assistance to ‘Low-End Population,’ Officials Not Pleased” [Minjian zifa jiuzhu beijing “diduan renkou” guan bu yue], Voice of America, 27 November 17 (https://www.voachinese.com/a/news-ngos-in-beijing-were-stopped-from-helping-homeless-20171127/4138212.html); Simon Denyer and Luna Lin, “Mass Evictions in Freezing Beijing Winter Sparks Public Outrage but Little Official Remorse,” Washington Post, 27 November 17 (https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/11/27/forced-evictions-in-freezing-beijing-winter-sparks-public-outrage-but-little-official-remorse/).
[30] “Civil Society in Beijing Spontaneously Offer Assistance to ‘Low-End Population,’ Officials Not Pleased” [Minjian zifa jiuzhu beijing “diduan renkou” guan bu yue], Voice of America, 27 November 17 (https://www.voachinese.com/a/news-ngos-in-beijing-were-stopped-from-helping-homeless-20171127/4138212.html); Zheping Huang, “What You Need To Know About Beijing’s Crackdown on Its ‘Low-End Population,’” Quartz, 27 November 17 (https://qz.com/1138395/low-end-population-what-you-need-to-know-about-chinas-crackdown-on-migrant-workers/).
[31] Haowai Zhi Wai (wangjxclub), “In Dreams I Did Not Know I Was a Visitor—Swan Rescue Team and People in the Cold Night” [Meng li bu zhi shen shi ke—tian’e jiuyuan dui yu han ye li de ren], WeChat post, 27 November 28 (https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/UQH29WS32IVAc-s2qHO8Aw).
[32] Haowai Zhi Wai (wangjxclub), “In Dreams I Did Not Know I Was a Visitor—Swan Rescue Team and People in the Cold Night” [Meng li bu zhi shen shi ke—tian’e jiuyuan dui yu han ye li de ren], WeChat post, 27 November 28 (https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/UQH29WS32IVAc-s2qHO8Aw).
[33] Haowai Zhi Wai (wangjxclub), “In Dreams I Did Not Know I Was a Visitor—Swan Rescue Team and People in the Cold Night” [Meng li bu zhi shen shi ke—tian’e jiuyuan dui yu han ye li de ren], WeChat post, 27 November 28 (https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/UQH29WS32IVAc-s2qHO8Aw).
[34] Although the government has deleted many of the original social media posts, videos of the evictions can still be found on websites outside China. See, e.g., Boxun Watch, “‘Chinese Exclusion’ Inside China, Beijing Violently Evicts ‘Low-End Population’” [Jingnei “pai hua” beijing baoli qugan “diduan renkou”] [Video file], YouTube, 24 November 17 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGmY2VlKvj4); Boxun Watch, “‘Chinese Exclusion’ Inside China, Beijing Violently Evicts ‘Low-End Population’ (2)” [Jingnei “pai hua” beijing baoli qugan “diduan renkou” (2)] [Video file], YouTube, 26 November 17 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9RQLWLwnO8); RFA Chinese, “Beijing’s ‘Low-End Population’: ‘We Are Also Chinese, Why Do They Treat Us Like This?’” [Beijing “diduan renkou”: “women ye shi zhongguoren, weishenme yao zheme duidai women?”] [Video file], YouTube, 28 November 17(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHG_IQ6m31c). See also videos posted to Beijing-based artist Hua Yong’s Twitter account (@Huayong798) on November 29 and 30, 2017 (https://twitter.com/HuaYong798). For more information on the censorship of online discussion of the migrant worker evictions in Beijing, see Zheping Huang, “China’s Evicting Mentions of Its ‘Low-End’ Migrants From Cyberspace,” Quartz, 30 November 17 (https://qz.com/1142474/china-is-evicting-mentions-of-its-low-end-population-from-cyberspace/); Freedom House, “China Media Bulletin: Holiday Crackdown, Beijing Netizen Outcries, Skype App Removal (Issue No. 124),” 9 December 17 (https://freedomhouse.org/china-media/china-media-bulletin-holiday-crackdown-beijing-netizen-outcries-skype-app-removal-issue-no-124).
[35] Li Rongde and Yuan Suwen, “In Rare Move, State Media Publishes Veiled Disapproval of Beijing’s Fire Safety Campaign,” Caixin, 27 November 17 (https://www.caixinglobal.com/2017-11-27/in-rare-move-state-media-publishes-veiled-disapproval-of-beijings-fire-safety-campaign-101176915.html); Lucy Hornby and Archie Zhang, “Beijing’s Migrant Expulsion Prompts Civic Outcry,” Financial Times, 28 November 17 (https://www.ft.com/content/892fb552-d40e-11e7-8c9a-d9c0a5c8d5c9); “Chinese Intellectuals Jointly Demand Beijing End Evictions of Migrants” [Zhongguo zhishifenzi lianming yaoqiu beijing tingzhi qugan wailai renkou], Voice of America, 28 November 17 (https://www.voachinese.com/a/Chinese-intellectuals-urge-Beijing-stop-removing-migrate-workers-20171126/4137298.html).
[36] Freedom House, “China Media Bulletin: Holiday Crackdown, Beijing Netizen Outcries, Skype App Removal (Issue No. 124),” 9 December 17 (https://freedomhouse.org/china-media/china-media-bulletin-holiday-crackdown-beijing-netizen-outcries-skype-app-removal-issue-no-124). The Wenzhou train crash garnered national attention due to the high volume of information shared on Chinese social media at the time. Jonathan Hassid and Maria Repnikova, “Why Chinese Print Journalists Embrace the Internet,” Journalism, Vol. 17(7) (2016), 889 (http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1464884915592405?journalCode=joua); Rogier Creemers, “Cyber China: Upgrading Propaganda, Public Opinion Work and Social Management for the Twenty-First Century,” Journal of Contemporary China, Vol. 26, No. 103 (2017), 86, 90, 97 (https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10670564.2016.1206281); David Bandurski, “How China’s Government Controls the News: A Primer,” Foreign Policy, 21 July 15 (http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/07/21/china-media-xi-jinping-crackdown-newspaper/).
[37] See, e.g., Simon Denyer, “The Internet Was Supposed To Foster Democracy. China Has Different Ideas.,” Washington Post, 10 July 16 (https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/the-internet-was-supposed-to-foster-democracy-china-has-different-ideas/2016/07/10/42954bbc-1dd9-11e6-b6e0-c53b7ef63b45_story.html). See also Freedom House, “Freedom on the Net 2017—China Country Report,” November 2017 (https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-net/2017/china); Cheang Ming and Saheli Roy Choudhury, “China Has Launched Another Crackdown on the Internet – but It’s Different This Time,” CNBC, 26 October 17 (https://www.cnbc.com/2017/10/26/china-internet-censorship-new-crackdowns-and-rules-are-here-to-stay.html).
[38] “Safety Remediation After Major Fire in Daxing, Beijing, State Media Denies Using the Opportunity To Clean Out ‘Low-End Population’” [Beijing daxing da huo hou anquan zhengzhi guan mei fouren jie ji qingli “diduan renkou”], BBC, 24 November 17 (http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/world-42113608); Freedom House, “China Media Bulletin: Holiday Crackdown, Beijing Netizen Outcries, Skype App Removal (Issue No. 124),” 9 December 17 (https://freedomhouse.org/china-media/china-media-bulletin-holiday-crackdown-beijing-netizen-outcries-skype-app-removal-issue-no-124); “The Class Allegiance of China’s De Facto Voters,” Chublic Opinion (blog), 10 January 18 (https://chublicopinion.com/2018/01/10/the-class-allegiance-of-chinas-de-facto-voters/).
[39] See, e.g., Haowai Zhi Wai (wangjxclub), “In Dreams I Did Not Know I Was a Visitor—Swan Rescue Team and People in the Cold Night” [Meng li bu zhi shen shi ke—tian’e jiuyuan dui yu han ye li de ren], WeChat post, 27 November 28 (https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/UQH29WS32IVAc-s2qHO8Aw); Sun Liping (Sun liping shehui guancha), “Sun Liping: It Was a Tragedy, but Not a Reason for Clearing the Population” [Sun liping: na jian shi shi beiju, dan bing bushi qingli renkou de liyou], WeChat post, 21 November 17 (https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/aBB2m3exNJQCxaf-fT6SzA); Wang Liuyi, “Analyzing the Legality of Beijing’s ‘Winter Cleanup Campaign’” [Beijing shi “dongji qingli xingdong” de hefaxing fenxi], Chinese Constitutional and Administrative Law Net, reprinted in China Digital Times, 28 November 17 (https://chinadigitaltimes.net/chinese/2017/11/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD%E5%AE%AA%E6%94%BF%E7%BD%91%EF%BD%9C%E7%8E%8B%E7%95%99%E4%B8%80%EF%BC%9A%E5%8C%97%E4%BA%AC%E5%B8%82%E5%86%AC%E5%AD%A3%E6%B8%85%E7%90%86%E8%A1%8C%E5%8A%A8%E7%9A%84/#). For additional analyses of online discussion of the mass evictions, see “The Class Allegiance of China’s De Facto Voters,” Chublic Opinion (blog), 10 January 18 (https://chublicopinion.com/2018/01/10/the-class-allegiance-of-chinas-de-facto-voters/); China Digital Times, “Sensitive Word of the Week: Low-end Population,” 30 November 17 (https://chinadigitaltimes.net/2017/11/sensitive-word-week-low-end-population/); Oiwan Lam, “After Authorities Evict Beijing's ‘Low-End’ Residents, Chinese Ask: Where Is the Humanity?” Global Voices, 29 November 17 (https://globalvoices.org/2017/11/29/after-authorities-evict-beijings-low-end-residents-chinese-ask-where-is-the-humanity/).
[40] “The Class Allegiance of China’s De Facto Voters,” Chublic Opinion (blog), 10 January 18 (https://chublicopinion.com/2018/01/10/the-class-allegiance-of-chinas-de-facto-voters/); Freedom House, “China Media Bulletin: Holiday Crackdown, Beijing Netizen Outcries, Skype App Removal (Issue No. 124),” 9 December 17 (https://freedomhouse.org/china-media/china-media-bulletin-holiday-crackdown-beijing-netizen-outcries-skype-app-removal-issue-no-124).
[41] “Relevant Responsible Person From Beijing Administration of Work Safety Answers Journalists Questions on Major Inspections, Major Cleanup, Major Rectification Campaign” [Beijing shi anweihui xianguan fuzeren jiu da paicha da qingli da zhengzhi zhuanxiang zingdong da jizhe wen], Xinhua, 26 November 17 (http://www.xinhuanet.com/local/2017-11/26/c_1122010880.htm).
[42] “Civil Society in Beijing Spontaneously Offer Assistance to ‘Low-End Population,’ Officials Not Pleased” [Minjian zifa jiuzhu beijing “diduan renkou” guan bu yue], Voice of America, 27 November 17 (https://www.voachinese.com/a/news-ngos-in-beijing-were-stopped-from-helping-homeless-20171127/4138212.html); China Digital Times, “Sensitive Word of the Week: Low-end Population,” 30 November 17 (https://chinadigitaltimes.net/2017/11/sensitive-word-week-low-end-population/).
[43] “Letter From Intellectuals to Central Committee of the Communist Party, NPC, State Council, and NPPCC on Recent Large Scale Evictions of the “Outsider Population” in Beijing” [Zhishijierenshi jiu jinri beijing da guimo qugan “wailai renkou” shijian zhi zhonggong zhongyang, quanguo renda, guowuyuan, quanguo zhengxie xin], reprinted in Rights Defense Network, 25 November 17 (http://wqw2010.blogspot.com.au/2017/11/blog-post_52.html). See also “Chinese Intellectuals Jointly Demand Beijing End Evictions of Migrants” [Zhongguo zhishifenzi lianming yaoqiu beijing tingzhi qugan wailai renkou], Voice of America, 28 November 17 (https://www.voachinese.com/a/Chinese-intellectuals-urge-Beijing-stop-removing-migrate-workers-20171126/4137298.html).
[44] “[Show] Understanding, Kindness, Tolerance, and Care for Them! An Appeal for Immediately Ending Violent Evictions of ‘Low-End Groups,’ Immediately Opening Relief Centers” [Lijie, shandai, kuanrong, guan’ai tamen!——guanyu liji tingzhi cubao qugan “diduan renqun”, liji kaifang jiuzhu zhongxin de huyu], reprinted in Rights Defense Network, 25 November 17 (http://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2017/11/blog-post_53.html). See also “Chinese Intellectuals Jointly Demand Beijing End Evictions of Migrants” [Zhongguo zhishifenzi lianming yaoqiu beijing tingzhi qugan wailai renkou], Voice of America, 28 November 17 (https://www.voachinese.com/a/Chinese-intellectuals-urge-Beijing-stop-removing-migrate-workers-20171126/4137298.html). The same group from Renmin University of China issued an open letter in 2016 on the death in police custody of environmentalist Lei Yang. For more information on the Lei Yang case, see Didi Kirsten Tatlow, “Chinese Man’s Death in Custody Prompts Suspicion of Police Brutality,” New York Times, Sinosphere (blog)12 May 16 (https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/13/world/asia/china-lei-yang-police-death.html); “Chinese Authorities Decided Not To Prosecute Police Officers Found To Have Caused a Beijing Resident’s Death,” Congressional-Executive Commission on China, 16 May 17 (https://www.cecc.gov/publications/commission-analysis/chinese-authorities-decided-not-to-prosecute-police-officers-found).
[45] “Letter Urging Beijing Communist Party Secretary Mr. Cai Qi To Resign” [Duncu beijing shiwei shuji cai qi xiansheng cizhi shu], 13 December 17 (https://qm2017.github.io/). See also “After Fire in Beijing’s Shibalidian Town, More Violent Evictions of the ‘Low-End Population,’ Citizens Jointly Urge Cai Qi To Resign” [Beijing shibalidian xiang huozai hou “diduan renkou” zai zao baoli quzhu gongmin lianshu duncu cai qi cizhi], Radio Free Asia, 14 December 17 (https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/yf1-12142017131428.html).
[46] “Full Text of Request From Jiang Ping, He Weifang, and Other Scholars and Lawyers to the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress for a Review of the Constitutionality of the Beijing Government’s Campaign To Expel Nonresidents and Relevant Administrative Documents” [Jiang ping, he weifang deng xuezhe lushi dui beijing shi zhengfu qugan wailai jumin de xingdong ji qi yiju de xingzheng wenjian xiang quanguo rendahui changweihui tiqing hexianxing shencha de quanwen], 19 December 17, reprinted in Rights Defense Network, 24 December 17 (https://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2017/12/blog-post_27.html).
[47] Xu Feipeng, “At Meeting of District Committee Secretaries, Cai Qi Stresses Local Responsibility, Ensuring Safety” [Cai qi zai quwei shuji hui shang qiangdiao jianchi shoutu jinze bao yifang ping’an], Beijing Daily WeChat (post), reprinted in Qianlong, 27 November 17 (http://beijing.qianlong.com/2017/1127/2205648.shtml).
[48] Xu Feipeng, “At Meeting of District Committee Secretaries, Cai Qi Stresses Local Responsibility, Ensuring Safety” [Cai qi zai quwei shuji hui shang qiangdiao jianchi shoutu jinze bao yifang ping’an], Beijing Daily WeChat (post), reprinted in Qianlong, 27 November 17 (http://beijing.qianlong.com/2017/1127/2205648.shtml).
[49] Wang Hao and Wu Hongli, “Cai Qi Visits and Salutes Service Workers, Emphasizes Our City Can’t Operate Without Ordinary Laborers, Chen Jining Also Salutes [Them]” [Cai qi kanwang weiwen shenghuoxing fuwu ye laodongzhe shi qiangdiao women zhe zuo chengshi libukai putong laodongzhe chen jining yitong weiwen], Qianlong, 12 December 17 (http://beijing.qianlong.com/2017/1212/2245957.shtml).
[50] Wang Bin, “Daxing To Construct Dorm-Style ‘Migrant Worker Homes’” [Daxing jiang jian sushe shi “dagongzhe zhi jia”], Beijing Youth Daily, 26 January 18 (http://epaper.ynet.com/html/2018-01/26/content_277288.htm).
[51] China Digital Times, “Minitrue: Beijing Municipality Campaign To Rectify [and] Cleanup Illegal Structures” [Zhenli bu: beijing shi zhengzhi qingtui wei jian xingdong], 28 November 17 (https://chinadigitaltimes.net/chinese/2017/11/%E3%80%90%E7%9C%9F%E7%90%86%E9%83%A8%E3%80%91%E5%8C%97%E4%BA%AC%E5%B8%82%E6%95%B4%E6%B2%BB%E6%B8%85%E9%80%80%E8%BF%9D%E5%BB%BA%E8%A1%8C%E5%8A%A8/); China Digital Times, “Minitrue: Control Coverage, Commentary on Evictions,” 28 November 17 (https://chinadigitaltimes.net/2017/11/minitrue-control-coverage-commentary-beijing-evictions/).
[52] “Beijing Denies Cleansing of ‘Low-End Population,’ Live Stream of Golden Horse Awards Ends After Director Mentions ‘Low-End Population’” [Beijing fouren qingli “diduan renkou” jinma jiang huojiang daoyan ti “diduan renkou” zhibo bei qia], Radio Free Asia, 26 November 17 (https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shehui/yf-11262017112801.html).
[53] China Digital Times, “Sensitive Word of the Week: Low-end Population,” 30 November 17 (https://chinadigitaltimes.net/2017/11/sensitive-word-week-low-end-population/); “After Fire in Beijing’s Shibalidian Township, More Violent Evictions of the ‘Low-End Population,’ Citizens Jointly Urge Cai Qi To Resign” [Beijing shibalidian xiang huozai hou ‘diduan renkou’ zai zao baoli quzhu gongmin lianshu duncu cai qi cizhi], Radio Free Asia, 14 December 17 (https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/yf1-12142017131428.html).
[54] Eva Dou and Dominique Fong, “Homeward Bound: Beijing Boots Migrant Workers To Trim Its Population,” Wall Street Journal, 29 November 17 (https://www.wsj.com/articles/beijing-evictions-of-migrant-workers-sparks-outrage-1511962464); weiboSCOPE, Journalism and Media Studies Centre, University of Hong Kong, “HKU JMSC Weibo Censorship Index,” last visited 12 February 18 (http://weiboscope.jmsc.hku.hk/). For information about increased censorship around the 19th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, see, e.g., Charlie Campbell, “Propaganda and Censorship Are Reaching Fever Pitch on the Eve of China’s Big Leadership Reshuffle,” Time, 17 October 17 (http://time.com/4985307/xi-jinping-china-propaganda-censorship-19th-congress/); “China’s Weibo Looks To Reward Citizen Censors With iPhones, Tablets,” Reuters, 27 September 17 (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-weibo-censorship/chinas-weibo-looks-to-reward-citizen-censors-with-iphones-tablets-idUSKCN1C21AD).
[55] Eva Dou and Dominique Fong, “Homeward Bound: Beijing Boots Migrant Workers To Trim Its Population,” Wall Street Journal, 29 November 17 (https://www.wsj.com/articles/beijing-evictions-of-migrant-workers-sparks-outrage-1511962464); “The Class Allegiance of China’s De Facto Voters,” Chublic Opinion (blog), 10 January 18 (https://chublicopinion.com/2018/01/10/the-class-allegiance-of-chinas-de-facto-voters/).
[56] The U.S.-based website China Digital Times collects and republishes censored articles. See, e.g., “Zhang Zanbo｜A Disheartening Day: Recording the Expulsion of the ‘Low-End Population’” [Zhang zanbo｜ling ren jusang de yi tian: jilu qugan “diduan renkou”], reprinted in China Digital Times, 2 December 17 (https://chinadigitaltimes.net/chinese/2017/12/%E5%BC%A0%E8%B5%9E%E6%B3%A2%EF%BD%9C%E4%BB%A4%E4%BA%BA%E6%B2%AE%E4%B8%A7%E7%9A%84%E4%B8%80%E5%A4%A9%EF%BC%9A%E8%AE%B0%E5%BD%95%E9%A9%B1%E8%B5%B6%E4%BD%8E%E7%AB%AF%E4%BA%BA%E5%8F%A3/); Wang Liuyi, “Analyzing the Legality of Beijing’s ‘Winter Cleanup Campaign’” [Beijing shi “dongji qingli xingdong” de hefaxing fenxi], Chinese Constitutional and Administrative Law Net, reprinted in China Digital Times, 28 November 17 (https://chinadigitaltimes.net/chinese/2017/11/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD%E5%AE%AA%E6%94%BF%E7%BD%91%EF%BD%9C%E7%8E%8B%E7%95%99%E4%B8%80%EF%BC%9A%E5%8C%97%E4%BA%AC%E5%B8%82%E5%86%AC%E5%AD%A3%E6%B8%85%E7%90%86%E8%A1%8C%E5%8A%A8%E7%9A%84/#); China Digital Times, “[Minitrue] ‘After Clearing Out, Local Beijing Residents Getting Anxious: Villages Emptied, Rental Income Gone,’” [[Zhenli bu] “qingtui hou bentu beijing ren kaishi jiaolu: cunzi kongle zujin meile”], 7 January 18 (https://chinadigitaltimes.net/chinese/2018/01/%E3%80%90%E7%9C%9F%E7%90%86%E9%83%A8%E3%80%91%E3%80%8A%E6%B8%85%E9%80%80%E4%B9%8B%E5%90%8E%E6%9C%AC%E5%9C%9F%E5%8C%97%E4%BA%AC%E4%BA%BA%E5%BC%80%E5%A7%8B%E7%84%A6%E8%99%91%EF%BC%9A%E6%9D%91%E5%AD%90/).
[57] “Chinese Intellectuals Jointly Demand Beijing End Evictions of Migrants” [Zhongguo zhishifenzi lianming yaoqiu beijing tingzhi qugan wailai renkou], Voice of America, 28 November 17 (https://www.voachinese.com/a/Chinese-intellectuals-urge-Beijing-stop-removing-migrate-workers-20171126/4137298.html); Nectar Gan, “Welcome to Beijing: Where Helping the Homeless Can Get You Evicted,” South China Morning Post, 27 November 17 (http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2121647/welcome-beijing-where-helping-homeless-can-get-you).
[58] Nectar Gan, “Welcome to Beijing: Where Helping the Homeless Can Get You Evicted,” South China Morning Post, 27 November 17 (http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2121647/welcome-beijing-where-helping-homeless-can-get-you).
[59] Hua Yong, “After the Major Fire (14)” [Da huo zhihou (14)] [Video file], YouTube, 29 November 17 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syQmQBMfSEk); Hua Yong, “After the Major Fire (15A)” [Da huo zhihou (15A)] [Video file], YouTube, 29 November 17 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EDrC-DYebY); Hua Yong, “After the Major Fire (16)” [Da huo zhihou (16)] [Video file], YouTube, 30 November 17 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IEJnIOouf0&feature=youtu.be).
[60] Hua Yong, “After the Major Fire (10)” [Da huo zhihou (10)] [Video file], YouTube, 29 November 17 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4-Vt27px-0); Hua Yong, “After the Major Fire (11 Part 1)” [Da huo zhihou (11 shang)] [Video file], YouTube, 29 November 17 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDJmUmUzAj4).
[61] Hua Yong, “After the Major Fire 2017-12-04 (2)” [Da huo zhihou 2017-12-04 (2)] [Video file], YouTube, 4 December 17 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwxLZNru1mQ); Hua Yong, “2017-12-07 Hua Yong at the Scene (18)” [2017-12-07 hua yong zai xianchang (18)] [Video file], YouTube, 7 December 17 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VkFf-EzmcU).
[62] Videos can be found at Hua Yong’s YouTube account (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUEwfKAQj359gIiB-WiQIZQ) and Twitter account (https://twitter.com/huayong798?lang=en). See also Austin Ramzy, “Artist Flees Beijing After Filming Devastation of Mass Evictions,” New York Times, 12 December 17 (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/12/world/asia/china-beijing-migrants-eviction.html).
[63] Austin Ramzy, “Artist Flees Beijing After Filming Devastation of Mass Evictions,” New York Times, 12 December 17 (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/12/world/asia/china-beijing-migrants-eviction.html); Rights Defense Network, “Five Who Helped Hua Yong Escape From Xinijan Village, Beijing, Detained, Hua Yong Calls for [Their] Rescue” [Beijing xinjian cun 5 ming husong hua yong de cunmin bei zhuabu hua yong yu guanzhu jiuyuan], 12 December 17 (http://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2017/12/5.html). The following videos show an official attempting to remove Hua and local Beijing residents helping Hua to flee the area: Hua Yong, “2017-12-07 Hua Yong at the Scene (18)” [2017-12-07 hua yong zai xianchang (18)] [Video file], YouTube, 7 December 17 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VkFf-EzmcU); Hua Yong, “2017-12-07 Hua Yong at the Scene (19)” [2017-12-07 hua yong zai xianchang (19)] [Video file], YouTube, 7 December 17 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1R7s2_VkTI); Hua Yong, “2017-12-07 Hua Yong at the Scene (20)” [2017-12-07 hua yong zai xianchang (20)] [Video file], YouTube, 7 December 17 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDDoUhbSRcE).
[64] Rights Defense Network, “Five Who Helped Hua Yong Escape From Xinijan Village, Beijing, Detained, Hua Yong Calls for [Their] Rescue” [Beijing xinjian cun 5 ming husong hua yong de cunmin bei zhuabu hua yong yu guanzhu jiuyuan], 12 December 17 (http://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2017/12/5.html); Rights Defense Network, “Hua Yong Visits 6 Criminally Detained Villagers From Xinjian Village, Beijing, Calls on Everyone To Follow [the Case] and Provide Legal Aid” [Hua yong tanfang beijing xinjian cun 6 ming zao xingju cunmin yu gejie guanzhu bing yu falu jiuyuan], 24 December 17 (http://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2017/12/6.html?spref=tw). For more information, see the Commission’s Political Prisoner Database records 2018-00042 for Gu Tianjin, 2018-00043 for Hu Dehua, 2018-00044 for Hu Fuqiang, 2018-00045 for Liu Jinying, 2018-00046 for Shen Deli, and 2018-00047 for Zhang Shudong.
[65] “Hua Yong Filmed ‘Low-End Population’ Evictions, Is Detained, Citizens Protest in Solidarity” [Hua yong paishe “diduan renkou” bei quzhu shipin zao zhuabu gongmin shangjie ju pai shengyuan], Radio Free Asia, 17 December 17 (https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/yf-12172017095716.html). For more information on Hua Yong, see the Commission’s Political Prisoner Database record 2018-00054. Hua recorded a series of videos in Tianjin prior to his detention. See, e.g., Hua Yong (@huayong798), Twitter post, 15 December 17, 6:33 a.m. (https://mobile.twitter.com/HuaYong798/status/941677498538094593); Hua Yong (@huayong798), Twitter post, 15 December 17, 6:55 a.m. (https://mobile.twitter.com/HuaYong798/status/941683165088960513); Hua Yong (@huayong798), Twitter post, 15 December 17, 7:07 a.m. (https://mobile.twitter.com/HuaYong798/status/941686268517339137).
[66] “After Two Days’ Criminal Detention, Hua Yong Released on Bail, Flew to Chengdu To Celebrate Daughter's Birthday” [Hua yong bei xingju liang ri hou qubao feidi chengdu peitong nu’er guo shengri], Radio Free Asia, 18 December 17 (https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/yf2-12182017095045.html); LifeTime Horizons (@lifetimeusa), Twitter post, 18 December 17, 5:28 a.m. (https://mobile.twitter.com/lifetimeusa/status/942748414386851842).
[67] “Ripples From Major Beijing Fire, 100 Thousand Migrants Expelled From City” [Beijing da huo yubo dangyang quanshi 10 wan waidi ren bei zhu], Radio Free Asia, 23 November 17 (https://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/remove-11232017072505.html/ampRFA); “Thousands of Migrant Workers in Beijing Forcibly Evicted, Resistance Mounted in at Least One Location,” China Change, 29 November 17 (https://chinachange.org/2017/11/30/thousands-of-migrant-workers-in-beijing-forcibly-evicted-resistance-mounted-in-at-least-one-location/); Shi Shuhua, “Graphic: How Broad Is the Impact of Beijing’s Recent Clean Up and Rectification Campaign?” [Tujie: beijing zuixin qingli zhengzhi xingdong, yingxiang fanwei you duo guang?], Financial Times, 29 November 17 (http://www.ftchinese.com/story/001075262); Chris Buckley, “Why Parts of Beijing Look Like a Devastated War Zone,” New York Times, 30 November 17 (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/30/world/asia/china-beijing-migrants.html).
[68] National People’s Congress Standing Committee, PRC Regulations on Household Registration [Zhonghua renmin gongheguo hukou dengji tiaoli], issued and effective 9 January 58 (http://www.npc.gov.cn/wxzl/gongbao/2000-12/10/content_5004332.htm).
[69] See, e.g., Hongbin Li et al., “Human Capital and China’s Future Growth,” Journal of Economic Perspectives, Vol. 31, No. 1 (Winter 2017), 28; Yang Song, “Hukou-Based Labour Market Discrimination and Ownership Structure in Urban China,” Urban Studies, Vol. 53(8) (2016), 1658; Spencer Sheehan, “China’s Hukou Reforms and the Urbanization Challenge,” The Diplomat, 22 February 17 (https://thediplomat.com/2017/02/chinas-hukou-reforms-and-the-urbanization-challenge/). For more information on China’s hukou system, see CECC, 2017 Annual Report, 5 October 17, 169–70 (https://www.cecc.gov/media-center/press-releases/cecc-releases-2017-annual-report).
[70] See, e.g., Hongbin Li et al., “Human Capital and China’s Future Growth,” Journal of Economic Perspectives, Vol. 31, No. 1 (Winter 2017), 28; Yang Song, “Hukou-Based Labour Market Discrimination and Ownership Structure in Urban China,” Urban Studies, Vol. 53(8) (2016), 1,658; China Labour Bulletin, “Migrant Workers and Their Children,” last visited 2 February 18 (http://www.clb.org.hk/content/migrant-workers-and-their-children); Eli Friedman, Insurgency Trap: Labor and Politics in Postsocialist China (Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2014), 14.
[71] State Council, Opinion on Further Carrying Out Reform of the Household Registration System [Guowuyuan guanyu jin yi bu tuijin huji zhidu gaige de yijian], issued 30 July 14, paras. 4–9 (http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/content/2014-07/30/content_8944.htm); “China To Help 100m Settle in Cities,” Xinhua, reprinted in China Daily, 30 July 14 (http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2014-07/30/content_18216278.htm); State Council General Office, “Plan Promoting 100 Million Individuals in Cities Without Household Registration To Obtain Hukou” [Tuidong 1 yi fei huji renkou zai chengshi luohu fang’an], issued 30 September 16, paras. 4-6 (http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/content/2016-10/11/content_5117442.htm); China Digital Times, “Beijing To Scrap Urban-Rural Residency Distinction,” 21 September 16 (https://chinadigitaltimes.net/2016/09/beijing-scrap-urban-rural-residency-distinction/).
[72]State Council, Opinion on Further Carrying Out Reform of the Household Registration System [Guowuyuan guanyu jin yi bu tuijin huji zhidu gaige de yijian], issued 30 July 14, paras. 6–7 (http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/content/2014-07/30/content_8944.htm); Bingqin Li, “China Going Nowhere on Hukou Reform,” East Asia Forum, 19 May 17 (http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2017/05/19/china-going-nowhere-on-hukou-reform/); Priyanka Juneja, “China’s Hukou System: An Interview With Fei-Ling Wang,” The Diplomat, 14 July 17 (https://thediplomat.com/2017/07/chinas-hukou-system/).
[73] Spencer Sheehan, “China’s Hukou Reforms and the Urbanization Challenge,” The Diplomat, 22 February 17 (https://thediplomat.com/2017/02/chinas-hukou-reforms-and-the-urbanization-challenge/); State Council General Office, “Plan Promoting 100 Million Individuals in Cities Without Household Registration To Obtain Hukou” [Tuidong 1 yi fei huji renkou zai chengshi luohu fang’an], issued 30 September 16, paras. 4-6 (http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/content/2016-10/11/content_5117442.htm); “Ministry of Public Security: Urban Areas With Under 3 Million Permanent Residents May Not Implement Points Systems for Obtaining Hukou” [Gong’anbu: chengqu changzhu renkou 300 wan yixia chengshi bude shishi jifen luohu], Caixin, 9 February 17 (http://china.caixin.com/2017-02-09/101053720.html).
[74] China Digital Times, “Person of the Week: Sun Liping,” 8 June 17 (https://chinadigitaltimes.net/2017/06/person-week-sun-liping/).
[75] Sun Liping (Sun liping shehui guancha), “Sun Liping: It Was a Tragedy, but Not a Reason for Clearing the Population” [Sun liping: na jian shi shi beiju, dan bing bushi qingli renkou de liyou], WeChat post, 21 November 17 (https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/aBB2m3exNJQCxaf-fT6SzA).
[76] Beijing Municipal Bureau of Statistics and Survey Office of the National Bureau of Statistics in Beijing, “Beijing Municipality 2016 National Economic and Social Development Statistical Bulletin” [Beijing shi 2016 nian guomin jingji he shehui fazhan tongji gongbao], 25 February 17, sec. 1 (http://www.bjstats.gov.cn/zxfb/201702/t20170224_369411.html).
[77] See, e.g., Eva Dou and Dominique Fong, “Homeward Bound: Beijing Boots Migrant Workers To Trim Its Population,” Wall Street Journal, 29 November 17 (https://www.wsj.com/articles/beijing-evictions-of-migrant-workers-sparks-outrage-1511962464); Bai Xin, “Bai Xin: Those Beijing Evicted Are a New Migrant Class That Threatens Political Security” [Bai xin: beijing qiechu de, shi weixie zhengzhi anquan de xin liumin jieji], Initium, 28 November 17 (https://theinitium.com/article/20171128-opinion-beijing-immigrants/); Eli Friedman, “Evicting the Underclass,” Jacobin, 6 December 17 (https://www.jacobinmag.com/2017/12/beijing-fire-migrant-labor-urbanization); Tom Phillips, “The Gentrification of Beijing: Razing of Migrant Villages Spells End of China Dream,” Guardian, 7 December 17 (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/dec/08/beijing-gentrification-china-migrant-villages-destroyed).
[78] Beijing Municipal Planning and State Land and Resources Management Committee, “Beijing General City Plan (2016–2035)” [Beijing chengshi zongti guihua (2016 nian–2035 nian], Beijing Municipal People’s Government, 29 September 17 (http://zhengwu.beijing.gov.cn/gh/dt/t1494703.htm); Kong Xiangxin and Luo Xiaoguang, “‘Beijing Municipality Master Plan (2016–2030)’ Set To Begin Public Comment Period” [“Beijing chengshi zongti guihua (2016 nian–2030 nian)” bianzhi jinru zhengqiu gongzhong yijian jieduan], Xinhua, 28 March 17 (http://www.xinhuanet.com/local/2017-03/28/c_1120712019.htm).
[79] Beijing Municipal Planning and State Land and Resources Management Committee, “Beijing General City Plan (2016–2035)” [Beijing chengshi zongti guihua (2016 nian–2035 nian], Beijing Municipal People’s Government, 29 September 17, art. 14 (http://zhengwu.beijing.gov.cn/gh/dt/t1494703.htm).
[80] Wang Shan, “Investigation—Displaced Individuals After Major Fire: Where Should We Go?” [Diaocha—da huo zhihou de yixiangren: women gai dao nali qu?], Life Week, 27 November 17 (http://m.lifeweek.com.cn/m/shareArticle.do?id=7787); Yuan Suwen et al., “Dislocated Migrant Workers Left in Cold and Confusion in Beijing,” Caixin, 25 November 17 (https://www.caixinglobal.com/2017-11-26/dislocated-migrant-workers-left-cold-and-confused-in-beijing-101176307.html). See also China Labour Bulletin, “Another Tragedy Unfolds in Beijing’s Migrant Worker Shanty Towns,” 20 November 17 (http://www.clb.org.hk/content/another-tragedy-unfolds-beijing%E2%80%99s-migrant-worker-shanty-towns).
[81] Emily Feng, “Beijing Begins Migrant School Demolition in Depopulation Drive,” Financial Times, 19 July 17 (https://www.ft.com/content/df8e93da-660b-11e7-8526-7b38dcaef614); Fan Shuo and Li Rongde, “School for Migrant Children in Beijing Fights Forced Closure,” Caixin, 2 November 17 (https://www.caixinglobal.com/2017-11-02/101164885.html).
[82] Steven Lee Myers, “A Cleanup of ‘Holes in the Wall’ in China’s Capital,” New York Times, 17 July 17 (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/17/world/asia/beijing-china-reconstruction-hutong.html); Liu Caiyu, “Demolition of 1000’s of Illegal Stores Leaves Beijing Migrants With Unsure Future,” Global Times, 25 April 17 (http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1044052.shtml); “Hundreds of Police Occupy Beijing Market Amid Anger Over Closures,” Radio Free Asia, 20 September 17 (https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/market-09202017120734.html).
[83] Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, “‘Shanghai Municipality General City Plan (2017–2035)’ Issued, Shanghai Will Become a City of Innovation, Culture, and Ecology” [“Shanghai shi chengshi zongti guihua (2017–2035 nian)” fabu shanghai jiang chengwei chuangxin zhi cheng, renwen zhi cheng, shengtai zhi cheng], 5 January 18 (http://www.shanghai.gov.cn/nw2/nw2314/nw32419/nw42806/nw42808/u21aw1280301.html). See also Benjamin Haas, “China’s Shanghai Sets Population at 25 Million To Avoid ‘Big City Disease,’” Guardian, 26 December 17 (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/dec/26/chinas-shanghai-sets-population-25-million--big-city-disease).
[84] “Li Keqiang Chairs Meeting of State Council Standing Committee” [Li keqiang zhuchi zhaokai guowuyuan changwu huiyi], Xinhua, 17 January 18 (http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2018-01/17/c_1122274794.htm); An Delie, “Li Keqiang Mobilizing Migrant Workers To Return to Rural Areas To Start Businesses Seen as Xi Jinping’s Version of Being Sent Down to the Countryside” [Li keqiang dongyuan nongmingong fan xiang chuangye bei zhi xi jinping ban shangshan xiaxiang], Radio France Internationale, 18 January 18 (http://cn.rfi.fr/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD/20180118-%E6%9D%8E%E5%85%8B%E5%BC%BA%E5%8A%A8%E5%91%98%E5%86%9C%E6%B0%91%E5%B7%A5%E8%BF%94%E4%B9%A1%E5%88%9B%E4%B8%9A%E8%A2%AB%E6%8C%87%E4%B9%A0%E8%BF%91%E5%B9%B3%E7%89%88%E4%B8%8A%E5%B1%B1%E4%B8%8B%E4%B9%A1).
[85] Amnesty International, “Standing Their Ground: Thousands Face Violent Eviction in China,” 2012, 11–12, 31–32 (https://www.amnestyusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/standing_their_ground_asa_17_001_2012_web__email.pdf); Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions, “One World, Whose Dream? Housing Rights Violations and the Beijing Olympic Games,” July 2008 (https://www.crin.org/en/docs/One_World_Whose_Dream_July08%5B1%5D.pdf); UN Watch, “38 Rights Groups Urge U.N. To Investigate Shanghai Expo Eviction of 18,000 Families,” 22 July 10 (https://www.unwatch.org/38-rights-groups-urge-un-to-investigate-shanghai-expo-eviction-of-18000-families/).
[86] UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Concluding Observations on the Second Periodic Report of China, Including Hong Kong, China, and Macao, China, adopted by the Committee at its 40th Meeting (23 May 2014), E/C.12/CHN/CO/2, 13 June 14, para. 30 (http://www.refworld.org/publisher,CESCR,CONCOBSERVATIONS,CHN,53c77e524,0.html).
[87] Jun Mai, “‘They Came Banging and Kicking’: Beijing Airport Workers Swept Up in Fire Safety Crackdown,” South China Morning Post, 29 November 17 (http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2122006/they-came-banging-and-kicking-beijing-airport-workers); Matt Rivers and Serenitie Wang, “Beijing Forces Migrant Workers From Their Homes in ‘Savage’ Demolitions,” CNN, 9 December 17 (http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/08/asia/china-migrant-workers-evictions-beijing/index.html); “In Pictures: ‘We Can’t Make It Here Anymore’—Migrant Worker Evictions Tear at Beijing’s Backbone,” Agence France-Presse, reprinted in Hong Kong Free Press, 4 January 18 (https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/01/04/pictures-cant-make-anymore-migrant-worker-evictions-tear-beijings-backbone/).
[88] “Beijing’s Migrants Expelled, Struggle To Remain in Beijing” [Bei zhu beipiao zhengzha liu jing], Ming Pao, 28 November 17 (https://news.mingpao.com/pns/dailynews/web_tc/article/20171129/s00013/1511893619779); Emily Feng, “Beijing Steps Up Evictions in Gentrification Push,” Financial Times, 25 November 17 (https://www.ft.com/content/55ffda7c-d0ee-11e7-b781-794ce08b24dc); Chris Buckley et al., “Campaign To Drive Out Migrants Slams Beijing’s Best and Brightest,” New York Times, 11 December 17 (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/11/world/asia/china-beijing-migrants-tech.html).
[89] See, e.g., Haowai Zhi Wai (wangjxclub), “In Dreams I Did Not Know I Was a Visitor—Swan Rescue Team and People in the Cold Night” [Meng li bu zhi shen shi ke—tian’e jiuyuan dui yu han ye li de ren], WeChat post, 28 November 17 (https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/UQH29WS32IVAc-s2qHO8Aw); Huang Ziyi and Li Rongde, “Thousands Evicted in Beijing Crackdown After Fatal Fire,” Caixin, 24 November 17 (https://www.caixinglobal.com/2017-11-24/thousands-evicted-in-beijing-crackdown-after-fatal-fire-101175899.html); “Beijing’s Migrants Expelled, Struggle To Remain in Beijing” [Bei zhu beipiao zhengzha liu jing], Ming Pao, 28 November 17 (https://news.mingpao.com/pns/dailynews/web_tc/article/20171129/s00013/1511893619779).
[90] China Digital Times, “[Minitrue] ‘After Clearing Out, Local Beijing Residents Getting Anxious: Villages Emptied, Rental Income Gone,’” [[Zhenli bu] “qingtui hou bentu beijing ren kaishi jiaolu: cunzi kongle zujin meile”], 7 January 18 (https://chinadigitaltimes.net/chinese/2018/01/%E3%80%90%E7%9C%9F%E7%90%86%E9%83%A8%E3%80%91%E3%80%8A%E6%B8%85%E9%80%80%E4%B9%8B%E5%90%8E%E6%9C%AC%E5%9C%9F%E5%8C%97%E4%BA%AC%E4%BA%BA%E5%BC%80%E5%A7%8B%E7%84%A6%E8%99%91%EF%BC%9A%E6%9D%91%E5%AD%90/). For more information on the economic relationship between local hukou holders and migrant workers in China’s cities, see commentary by David Bandurski in “The Beijing Migrants Crackdown,” Asia Society, ChinaFile, 30 November 17 (http://www.chinafile.com/conversation/beijing-migrants-crackdown).
[91] Jacky Wong, “How China’s Migrant Crisis Could Hit Alibaba,” Wall Street Journal, 5 December 17 (https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-chinas-migrant-crisis-could-hit-alibaba-1512465458); Matt Rivers and Serenitie Wang, “Beijing Forces Migrant Workers From Their Homes in ‘Savage’ Demolitions,” CNN, 9 December 17 (http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/08/asia/china-migrant-workers-evictions-beijing/index.html); Chris Buckley et al., “Campaign To Drive Out Migrants Slams Beijing’s Best and Brightest,” New York Times, 11 December 17 (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/11/world/asia/china-beijing-migrants-tech.html).
[92] Emily Feng, “Beijing Steps Up Evictions in Gentrification Push,” Financial Times, 25 November 17 (https://www.ft.com/content/55ffda7c-d0ee-11e7-b781-794ce08b24dc); Matt Rivers and Serenitie Wang, “Beijing Forces Migrant Workers From Their Homes in ‘Savage’ Demolitions,” CNN, 9 December 17 (http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/08/asia/china-migrant-workers-evictions-beijing/index.html).
[93] Wang Shan, “Investigation—Displaced Individuals After Major Fire: Where Should We Go?” [Diaocha—da huo zhihou de yixiangren: women gai dao nali qu?], Life Week, 27 November 17 (http://m.lifeweek.com.cn/m/shareArticle.do?id=7787); Zhuang Pinghui and Jane Cai, “How the Mass Eviction of Migrant Workers Has Left Beijing Reeling,” South China Morning Post, 11 December 17 (http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2123538/how-mass-eviction-migrant-workers-has-left-beijing-reeling); “Beijing’s Migrant Clear-Out May Hit Growth and Fuel Inflation,” Bloomberg, 4 December 17 (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-12-03/beijing-s-migrant-clearances-may-hurt-growth-and-stoke-inflation).
[94] “Beijing Rage Over Child Abuse, Evictions Shows Xi Challenge,” Bloomberg, 27 November 17 (https://www.bloomberg.com/amp/news/articles/2017-11-27/beijing-rage-over-child-abuse-evictions-shows-pressure-on-xi); Zhuang Pinghui and Jane Cai, “How the Mass Eviction of Migrant Workers Has Left Beijing Reeling,” South China Morning Post, 11 December 17 (http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2123538/how-mass-eviction-migrant-workers-has-left-beijing-reeling).
[95] International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, adopted by UN General Assembly resolution 2200A (XXI) of 16 December 66, entry into force 23 March 76, arts. 2(1), 12(1), 12(3), 26 (http://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/ccpr.aspx); Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted and proclaimed by UN General Assembly resolution 217A (III) of 10 December 48, arts. 2, 13(1) (http://www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights/index.html); UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Concluding Observations on the Second Periodic Report of China, Including Hong Kong, China, and Macao, China, adopted by the Committee at its 40th Meeting (23 May 2014), E/C.12/CHN/CO/2, 13 June 14, para. 15 (http://www.refworld.org/publisher,CESCR,CONCOBSERVATIONS,CHN,53c77e524,0.html); UN Human Rights Council, Report of the Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights on His Mission to China, Philip Alston, A/HRC/35/26/Add.2, 28 March 17, paras. 27–28 (http://www.refworld.org/docid/593a92504.html). See also Chinese Human Rights Defenders, “From Forced Evictions of Migrant Workers to Abused Children: Violations of Social & Economic Rights in China Refute the ‘China Development Model,’” 7 December 17 (https://www.nchrd.org/2017/12/from-forced-evictions-of-migrant-workers-to-abused-children-violations-of-social-economic-rights-in-china-refute-the-china-development-model/).
[96] International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, adopted by UN General Assembly resolution 2200A (XXI) of 16 December 66, entry into force 23 March 76, art. 19 (http://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/ccpr.aspx); Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted and proclaimed by UN General Assembly resolution 217A (III) on 10 December 48, art. 19 (http://www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights/index.html). For more information on restrictions on freedom of expression in China, see CECC, 2017 Annual Report, 5 October 17, 66–83.
[97] Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted and proclaimed by UN General Assembly resolution 217A (III) of 10 December 48, art. 20(1) (http://www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights/index.html); International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, adopted by UN General Assembly resolution 2200A (XXI) of 16 December 66, entry into force 23 March 76, art. 22 (http://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/ccpr.aspx). For more information on international standards and civil society in China, see CECC, 2017 Annual Report, 5 October 17, 223–28 (https://www.cecc.gov/media-center/press-releases/cecc-releases-2017-annual-report).
[98] International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), adopted by UN General Assembly resolution 2200A (XXI) of 16 December 66, entry into force 3 January 76, art. 11(1) (http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CESCR.aspx); United Nations Treaty Collection, Chapter IV, Human Rights, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, last visited 13 February 18 (https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=IND&mtdsg_no=IV-3&chapter=4&lang=en). China has signed and ratified the ICESCR.
[99] UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, CESCR General Comment No. 4: The Right to Adequate Housing (Art. 11(1) of the Covenant), E/1992/23, 13 December 91, para. 1 (http://www.refworld.org/docid/47a7079a1.html).
[100] UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, CESCR General Comment No. 4: The Right to Adequate Housing (Art. 11(1) of the Covenant), E/1992/23, 13 December 91, para. 8(a) (http://www.refworld.org/docid/47a7079a1.html). Note that this finding is reaffirmed in UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, General Comment No. 7: The Right to Adequate Housing (Art. 11.1): Forced Evictions, E/1998/2, 20 May 97, para. 1 (http://www.refworld.org/docid/47a70799d.html).
[101] UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, CESCR General Comment No. 4: The Right to Adequate Housing (Art. 11(1) of the Covenant), E/1992/23, 13 December 91, para. 18 (http://www.refworld.org/docid/47a7079a1.html). See also Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, General Comment No. 7: The Right to Adequate Housing (Art. 11.1): Forced Evictions, E/1998/2, 20 May 97, para. 1 (http://www.refworld.org/docid/47a70799d.html).
[102] The Committee defines “forced evictions” as “the permanent or temporary removal against their will of individuals, families and/or communities from the homes and/or land which they occupy, without the provision of, and access to, appropriate forms of legal or other protection.” UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, General Comment No. 7: The Right to Adequate Housing (Art. 11.1): Forced Evictions, E/1998/2, 20 May 97, para. 3 (http://www.refworld.org/docid/47a70799d.html).
[103] UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, General Comment No. 7: The Right to Adequate Housing (Art. 11.1): Forced Evictions, E/1998/2, 20 May 97, para 15 (http://www.refworld.org/docid/47a70799d.html).
[104] UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, General Comment No. 7: The Right to Adequate Housing (Art. 11.1): Forced Evictions, E/1998/2, 20 May 97, para. 16 (http://www.refworld.org/docid/47a70799d.html).
[105] For further analyses of the legality of the evictions in Beijing under Chinese law, see “Full Text of Request From Jiang Ping, He Weifang, and Other Scholars and Lawyers to the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress for a Review of the Constitutionality of the Beijing Government’s Campaign To Expel Nonresidents and Relevant Administrative Documents” [Jiang ping, he weifang deng xuezhe lushi dui beijing shi zhengfu qugan wailai jumin de xingdong ji qi yiju de xingzheng wenjian xiang quanguo rendahui changweihui tiqing hexianxing shencha de quanwen], 19 December 17, reprinted in Rights Defense Network, 24 December 17 (https://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2017/12/blog-post_27.html); Wang Liuyi, “Analyzing the Legality of Beijing’s ‘Winter Cleanup Campaign’” [Beijing shi “dongji qingli xingdong” de hefaxing fenxi], Chinese Constitutional and Administrative Law Net, reprinted in China Digital Times, 28 November 17 (https://chinadigitaltimes.net/chinese/2017/11/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD%E5%AE%AA%E6%94%BF%E7%BD%91%EF%BD%9C%E7%8E%8B%E7%95%99%E4%B8%80%EF%BC%9A%E5%8C%97%E4%BA%AC%E5%B8%82%E5%86%AC%E5%AD%A3%E6%B8%85%E7%90%86%E8%A1%8C%E5%8A%A8%E7%9A%84/#).
[106] PRC Administrative Enforcement Law [Zhonghua renmin gongheguo xingzheng qiangzhi fa], passed 30 June 11, effective 1 January 12, art. 43 (http://www.npc.gov.cn/npc/xinwen/2011-07/01/content_1662346.htm).
[107] PRC Administrative Enforcement Law [Zhonghua renmin gongheguo xingzheng qiangzhi fa], passed 30 June 11, effective 1 January 12, art. 44 (http://www.npc.gov.cn/npc/xinwen/2011-07/01/content_1662346.htm).
[108] Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted and proclaimed by UN General Assembly resolution 217A (III) of 10 December 48, art. 13(1) (http://www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights/index.html).
[109] International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, adopted by UN General Assembly resolution 2200A (XXI) of 16 December 66, entry into force 23 March 76, art. 12 (http://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/ccpr.aspx); United Nations Treaty Collection, Chapter IV, Human Rights, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, last visited 1 February 18 (https://treaties.un.org/pages/viewdetails.aspx?chapter=4&src=treaty&mtdsg_no=iv-4&lang=en). China has signed but not ratified the ICCPR.
[110] Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted and proclaimed by UN General Assembly resolution 217A (III) of 10 December 48, art. 2 (http://www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights/index.html); International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, adopted by UN General Assembly resolution 2200A (XXI) of 16 December 66, entry into force 23 March 76, art. 2 (http://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/ccpr.aspx).
[111] UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Concluding Observations of the Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, People’s Republic of China (Including Hong Kong and Macao), adopted by the Committee at its 27th Meeting (13 May 2005), E/C.12/1/Add.107, 13 May 05, paras. 15, 46 (http://www.refworld.org/docid/43f306770.html); UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Concluding Observations on the Second Periodic Report of China, Including Hong Kong, China, and Macao, China, adopted by the Committee at its 40th Meeting (23 May 2014), E/C.12/CHN/CO/2, 13 June 14, para. 15 (http://www.refworld.org/publisher,CESCR,CONCOBSERVATIONS,CHN,53c77e524,0.html).