Overseas groups urge nations to reject China's 'National Unity' law's extraterritorial reach

A coalition of 54 overseas community and civil society groups has issued a joint letter calling on governments worldwide to assert that China's National Unity Promotion Law lacks extraterritorial jurisdiction. Spearheaded by the London-based advocacy group Hong Kong Watch, the letter condemns the law, which took effect on July 1, as Beijing's latest attempt to impose a state-defined national identity on ethnic minorities.

The signatories, including groups representing Hong Kongers, Uyghurs, Tibetans, and Taiwanese, specifically highlighted Article 63 of the law. This article states that "organizations and individuals outside the People's Republic of China, who commit acts that undermine ethnic unity and progress within the territory of the People's Republic of China, shall be investigated for legal responsibility according to law." This provision, along with Article 20 which mandates parents guide minors to "love the Communist Party of China, love the motherland, love the people, love the Chinese nation, and establish the concept of the Chinese nation being one family," has raised significant alarms.

These groups argue that Article 63 mirrors the extraterritorial reach seen in Hong Kong's National Security Law and its recent Safeguarding National Security Ordinance. They contend that such laws provide Beijing with a tool to pursue, intimidate, and silence overseas communities. The joint letter urges governments to formally condemn the law and its extraterritorial claims, clearly stating it does not apply to their citizens or residents. It also calls for legislative action to bolster protections for overseas communities against cross-border suppression and encourages law enforcement agencies to investigate related incidents.