China passes law to promote ethnic unity

China has adopted a far-reaching new law aimed at promoting what authorities describe as “ethnic unity,” a move that officials say will strengthen national cohesion. Critics, however, warn that the legislation could further limit the cultural and linguistic rights of minority groups across the country.

On paper, the law seeks to foster integration among the country’s 56 officially recognized ethnic groups, which are largely dominated by the Han majority. The measures include policies linked to education, housing, and social integration intended to encourage closer interaction between communities.

One of the most significant provisions concerns language education. The law requires that Mandarin be taught to children before kindergarten and remain the primary language of instruction through high school. Previously, many students in minority regions were able to study much of their curriculum in local languages such as Tibetan, Uyghur, or Mongolian.

The legislation was approved on Thursday during the closing stage of the annual session of the National People’s Congress in Beijing. The assembly, China’s top legislative body, is known for routinely approving proposals placed on its agenda.

According to supporters in Beijing, promoting Mandarin will expand opportunities for younger generations and improve employment prospects across the country. Officials also say the law on “Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress” is intended to support national development and modernization through stronger social cohesion.

However, several analysts and academics argue that the measure reflects a broader shift in policy. Magnus Fiskesjö, an associate professor of anthropology at Cornell University, said the law aligns with efforts to reduce ethnic diversity that had been formally recognized since the founding of the modern Chinese state in 1949.

The legislation also introduces provisions that could allow authorities to take action against parents or guardians who are seen as promoting views considered harmful to ethnic harmony. It encourages the creation of “mutually embedded community environments,” a concept some observers believe could lead to the dispersal of neighborhoods heavily populated by minority groups.

China began promoting what it calls the “sinicisation” of minority communities in the late 2000s. The policy seeks to strengthen a unified national identity by encouraging ethnic groups to adopt elements of the dominant Han culture. Han Chinese account for more than 90 percent of the country’s population of about 1.4 billion people.

International criticism has frequently focused on policies affecting minority regions such as Tibet, Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia. Human rights groups say assimilation policies have sometimes been enforced through strict state measures, particularly during the leadership of Xi Jinping.

In Tibet, authorities have tightened control over religious institutions, including monasteries, and have restricted public expressions of loyalty to Dalai Lama. Meanwhile in Xinjiang, human rights organizations say more than a million Uyghur Muslims have been held in what Beijing describes as “re-education” centers, accusations the Chinese government strongly denies.

Protests have also emerged in other regions. In 2020, ethnic Mongolians staged demonstrations against policies reducing the use of the Mongolian language in schools in favor of Mandarin.

Although China’s constitution states that ethnic groups have the right to use and develop their own languages and to exercise regional autonomy, critics believe the new law could reinforce policies encouraging deeper cultural assimilation.

Tagged as:
China ethnic unity law China language law ethnic minorities China Mandarin education China National People’s Congress China sinicisation policy Tibet Xinjiang rights Xi Jinping minority policy

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