China says it has ‘legitimate’ right to apply new ethnic unity law against people beyond its own borders

China claims it has the "legitimate" authority to apply its new "ethnic unity" law to individuals beyond its own borders, a senior judicial official stated Wednesday. The law, officially titled the Ethnic Unity and Progress Promotion Law, is set to take effect on July 1.

This assertion has raised alarms among overseas rights advocates, who warn that the legislation could become a tool for further marginalizing ethnic minority groups. The broad scope suggested by the official implies potential implications for individuals living outside mainland China who are associated with these minority populations.

The stated aim of the law is to foster national unity. However, critics fear its implementation could extend Beijing's influence and control over diaspora communities, potentially stifling dissent and reinforcing state narratives on ethnicity and national identity.