China responds to US and EU concerns over Ethnic Unity Law
Beijing (ANTARA) - The Chinese Foreign Ministry has emphasised that the objective of the newly implemented Ethnic Unity and Progress Promotion Law is to encourage mutual assistance among various ethnic groups in China.
“We want to emphasise that China is a multi-ethnic country where various ethnic groups are all equal and united in a harmonious, mutually supportive relationship,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun during a press conference in Beijing on Friday (3/7).
The Ethnic Unity and Progress Promotion Law is set to come into effect on 1 July 2026, following its approval by the National People’s Congress (NPC), with the aim of enhancing cohesion and shared prosperity among all 56 ethnic groups in China.
The Chinese government states that the population of 55 ethnic minorities in the country (excluding the Han ethnicity) exceeds 125 million people, according to the 2020 census.
However, in a statement, an EU spokesperson noted that the law could further restrict the cultural, linguistic, and religious rights of ethnic minorities.
In a separate statement, a spokesperson for the US Department of State described the law as “problematic” because it could force individuals outside of China to “actively promote the Chinese Communist Party’s ‘ethnic unity’ agenda, or face retaliation from Chinese authorities.”
“The strengthening of the rule of law is beneficial for protecting the legitimate rights and interests of all ethnic groups and enhancing ethnic unity,” added Guo Jiakun.
According to Guo Jiakun, the Chinese government places great importance on the preservation of minority ethnic cultures and legally protects the rights of all ethnic groups to use and develop their own spoken and written languages.
“Our practices and achievements in this field have been widely recognised by the international community. Certain countries, trapped in ideological prejudice and driven by political manipulation, choose to turn a blind eye to China’s progress in socio-economic development and human rights protection,” Guo Jiakun asserted.
Instead, he argued, they take matters out of context, deliberately slandering China’s ethnic policies and fabricating and spreading misinformation.
“With such significant interference in China’s internal affairs, they seek to undermine ethnic unity in China. We firmly reject these actions and urge the relevant countries to respect clear facts, stop spreading lies, and stop interfering in China’s internal affairs by exaggerating ethnic issues,” said Guo Jiakun.
The law stipulates that upholding national unity and ethnic solidarity is the responsibility of all Chinese citizens and prohibits discrimination and oppression against any ethnic group.
Furthermore, the law combats violent terrorism, ethnic separatism, and religious extremism, and imposes criminal penalties on the planners, perpetrators, instigators, and financiers of such activities.
The law also establishes measures to support cultural integration, social blending, and economic development in ethnic minority regions.
Specific provisions direct central and local governments to strengthen infrastructure, promote industrial growth, ensure better access to public services, and enhance environmental protection efforts, among other measures.
This is due to the fact that many ethnic minority communities reside in mountainous, remote, or historically underdeveloped parts of China.
The Chinese government noted that through 18 poverty alleviation campaigns, China has been free of absolute poverty since 2021, with all 420 poor counties in provinces with ethnic minority majorities across 28 groups having been lifted out of absolute poverty, including the Inner Mongolia, Guangxi Zhuang, Xizang, Ningxia Hui, and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Regions.
The law also stipulates that the state must promote standard spoken and written Mandarin, while respecting and protecting the right to learn and use ethnic minority languages.
However, the UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Rights and Cultural Rights has stated that the law has been used to justify forced assimilation in regions such as Tibet and Xinjiang, rather than promoting ethnic harmony.
This follows Article 63 of the law, which states that “organisations and individuals outside mainland China who commit crimes aimed at (China) that undermine ethnic unity and progress or create ethnic division shall be prosecuted in accordance with the law,” according to translations.