Xi Jinping Enacts New Law, Minorities Under Threat

The Chinese government has officially enacted the Law on the Promotion of Ethnic Unity and Progress, effective from 1 July. This new regulation strengthens Xi Jinping’s policy on ethnic integration while expanding Beijing’s authority over parties deemed to disrupt ethnic unity, including those overseas. In a speech commemorating the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party, Xi stressed the importance of implementing the regulation. He called on all party cadres to ‘continue to consolidate and strengthen the great unity of all ethnic groups’ as part of efforts to maintain national stability and unity. The new rule prohibits any actions considered to ‘undermine ethnic unity’ or ‘create ethnic division’ among the 56 ethnic groups recognised by the Chinese government. The regulation also requires schools and government institutions to use Mandarin as the primary language, while educational curricula must instil a ‘sense of togetherness as the Chinese nation’. Parents are also obliged to guide their children to love the Chinese Communist Party and the country. Beyond the education sector, the government also requires museums, libraries, and other cultural institutions to promote China’s national history and identity. Meanwhile, local governments are asked to encourage inter-ethnic integration in housing policies, which some observers fear could pave the way for population relocation. The law also has a transnational scope. Organisations and individuals outside China’s territory deemed to disrupt ethnic unity can be held accountable. This provision has raised concerns among human rights groups, as it is considered capable of affecting the activities of academics, journalists, activists, and diaspora communities who criticise Beijing’s ethnic policies. Professor James Leibold of La Trobe University in Australia assessed that the regulation marks a major shift in the Chinese government’s approach to ethnic issues. ‘Beijing is no longer treating ethnic unity as a political slogan or mere local propaganda,’ he said. According to Leibold, the new rule makes the formation of a single national identity a binding obligation for all state institutions, from schools, families, and media to museums and security forces. ‘The message is clear: minority group identities are only acceptable if they are subordinate to a Chinese identity defined by the Party,’ he said. He also warned that the law could create a ‘chilling effect’ on researchers, journalists, activists, and the Chinese diaspora abroad. According to him, the threat of cross-border enforcement could trigger self-censorship, restrict travel, and narrow the space for academic discussion on China’s ethnic policies. Criticism also came from United Nations human rights experts. In a letter published in April, they assessed that the law could threaten the linguistic, cultural, and religious autonomy of minority groups such as Tibetans, Uyghurs, and Mongolians. They also warned of the risk of ‘transnational repression’ if the provisions are applied to individuals outside China’s territory. In response to the criticism, the Chinese government asserted that the new regulation aims to protect the rights of all ethnic groups. Vice Minister of Justice Hu Weilie stated that applying jurisdiction over parties abroad deemed to threaten ethnic unity is in line with international legal principles. ‘Ethnic unity is an important foundation for national prosperity and development. Illegal activities that deliberately provoke ethnic conflict, undermine unity, and threaten national security will harm the public interest and people’s rights,’ Hu said.