China's ethnic unity law takes effect amid international criticism over minority rights

China's new Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress took effect Wednesday, despite international warnings that it could undermine freedoms, especially for ethnic minorities.

The law aims to foster a unified national identity, strengthening Mandarin as the official language. However, overseas campaigners, including Amnesty International, argue it will further erode the rights of groups like the Uyghurs and Tibetans, who Beijing is accused of persecuting. Amnesty stated the law institutionalizes "policies of forced assimilation" and pushes ethnic groups toward a "single, state-defined national identity dominated by Han Chinese culture."

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Chinese authorities have human rights obligations requiring them to protect minority communities and their cultures, but this law does the opposite.

A particularly concerning clause allows Chinese authorities to hold individuals liable for violating the law even when outside China. This provision has led rights groups and governments, including Taiwan and several US lawmakers, to condemn the law as a tool for transnational repression and intimidation against perceived opponents abroad.

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In the future, individuals from any country whose words or actions are not acceptable to China may become targets of the law or be pursued under it.

Taiwan expressed "strong condemnation," warning the law expands "threats and intimidation against the people of our country and other nations." Similarly, US senators voiced opposition, expressing deep concern over language demanding "ideological compliance with the CCP" and holding individuals legally responsible in China for undermining "ethnic unity and progress."

Beijing consistently denies accusations of human rights abuses, maintaining that its policies promote internal security and economic development for all ethnic groups. The law formalizes long-standing policies promoting Mandarin and contains provisions that critics argue will further marginalize minority languages and cultures.

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we are deeply concerned by language in the law that demands ideological compliance with the CCP, mandating that even people outside China deemed to be undermining ‘ethnic unity and progress’ by the Chinese government can be held legally responsible in China.