Beijing (ANTARA) - The Chinese Foreign Ministry has emphasised that\nthe objective of the newly implemented Ethnic Unity and Progress\nPromotion Law is to encourage mutual assistance among various ethnic\ngroups in China.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to emphasise that China is a multi-ethnic country where\nvarious ethnic groups are all equal and united in a harmonious, mutually\nsupportive relationship,\u201d said Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo\nJiakun during a press conference in Beijing on Friday (3\/7).<\/p>\n
The Ethnic Unity and Progress Promotion Law is set to come into\neffect on 1 July 2026, following its approval by the National People\u2019s\nCongress (NPC), with the aim of enhancing cohesion and shared prosperity\namong all 56 ethnic groups in China.<\/p>\n
The Chinese government states that the population of 55 ethnic\nminorities in the country (excluding the Han ethnicity) exceeds 125\nmillion people, according to the 2020 census.<\/p>\n
However, in a statement, an EU spokesperson noted that the law could\nfurther restrict the cultural, linguistic, and religious rights of\nethnic minorities.<\/p>\n
In a separate statement, a spokesperson for the US Department of\nState described the law as \u201cproblematic\u201d because it could force\nindividuals outside of China to \u201cactively promote the Chinese Communist\nParty\u2019s \u2018ethnic unity\u2019 agenda, or face retaliation from Chinese\nauthorities.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe strengthening of the rule of law is beneficial for protecting\nthe legitimate rights and interests of all ethnic groups and enhancing\nethnic unity,\u201d added Guo Jiakun.<\/p>\n
According to Guo Jiakun, the Chinese government places great\nimportance on the preservation of minority ethnic cultures and legally\nprotects the rights of all ethnic groups to use and develop their own\nspoken and written languages.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur practices and achievements in this field have been widely\nrecognised by the international community. Certain countries, trapped in\nideological prejudice and driven by political manipulation, choose to\nturn a blind eye to China\u2019s progress in socio-economic development and\nhuman rights protection,\u201d Guo Jiakun asserted.<\/p>\n
Instead, he argued, they take matters out of context, deliberately\nslandering China\u2019s ethnic policies and fabricating and spreading\nmisinformation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith such significant interference in China\u2019s internal affairs, they\nseek to undermine ethnic unity in China. We firmly reject these actions\nand urge the relevant countries to respect clear facts, stop spreading\nlies, and stop interfering in China\u2019s internal affairs by exaggerating\nethnic issues,\u201d said Guo Jiakun.<\/p>\n
The law stipulates that upholding national unity and ethnic\nsolidarity is the responsibility of all Chinese citizens and prohibits\ndiscrimination and oppression against any ethnic group.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, the law combats violent terrorism, ethnic separatism,\nand religious extremism, and imposes criminal penalties on the planners,\nperpetrators, instigators, and financiers of such activities.<\/p>\n
The law also establishes measures to support cultural integration,\nsocial blending, and economic development in ethnic minority\nregions.<\/p>\n
Specific provisions direct central and local governments to\nstrengthen infrastructure, promote industrial growth, ensure better\naccess to public services, and enhance environmental protection efforts,\namong other measures.<\/p>\n
This is due to the fact that many ethnic minority communities reside\nin mountainous, remote, or historically underdeveloped parts of\nChina.<\/p>\n
The Chinese government noted that through 18 poverty alleviation\ncampaigns, China has been free of absolute poverty since 2021, with all\n420 poor counties in provinces with ethnic minority majorities across 28\ngroups having been lifted out of absolute poverty, including the Inner\nMongolia, Guangxi Zhuang, Xizang, Ningxia Hui, and Xinjiang Uygur\nAutonomous Regions.<\/p>\n
The law also stipulates that the state must promote standard spoken\nand written Mandarin, while respecting and protecting the right to learn\nand use ethnic minority languages.<\/p>\n
However, the UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Rights and Cultural\nRights has stated that the law has been used to justify forced\nassimilation in regions such as Tibet and Xinjiang, rather than\npromoting ethnic harmony.<\/p>\n
This follows Article 63 of the law, which states that \u201corganisations\nand individuals outside mainland China who commit crimes aimed at\n(China) that undermine ethnic unity and progress or create ethnic\ndivision shall be prosecuted in accordance with the law,\u201d according to\ntranslations.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/china-responds-to-us-and-eu-concerns-over-ethnic-unity-law-1783101125", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }