Xi Jinping Mandates Mandarin in Schools, Experts Fear 'Chilling Effect'

The Chinese government officially implemented a new Law on the Promotion of Ethnic Unity and Progress at the start of this month. The regulation supports President Xi Jinping’s policy on ethnic integration while expanding Beijing’s authority over those perceived to be disrupting ethnic unity, including parties overseas. In a speech commemorating the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party, Xi stressed the importance of enforcing the rules. 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 rules prohibit any actions deemed to ‘undermine ethnic unity’ or ‘create ethnic divisions’ among the 56 ethnic groups officially recognised by the Chinese government. The regulation also requires schools and government agencies to use Mandarin as the primary language, while educational curricula must instil a ‘sense of community 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 mandates 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, a move some observers fear could pave the way for population relocation. The law also has a transnational scope. Organisations or individuals outside China’s territory deemed to be disrupting ethnic unity can be held accountable. This provision has sparked concern among human rights groups, who believe it could affect the activities of academics, journalists, activists, and diaspora communities critical of 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 rules make the formation of a single national identity a binding obligation for all state institutions, from schools and families to the media, museums, and security apparatus. ‘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. He suggested the threat of cross-border enforcement could lead to 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 potentially threaten the linguistic, cultural, and religious autonomy of minority groups such as Tibetans, Uyghurs, and Mongols. They also warned of the risk of ‘transnational repression’ if the provisions are applied to individuals outside Chinese territory. Responding 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 overseas parties deemed to threaten ethnic unity is in line with the principles of international law. ‘Ethnic unity is an important foundation for national prosperity and development. Illegal activities that deliberately provoke ethnic conflicts, undermine unity, and threaten national security will harm the public interest and the rights of the people,’ Hu said. In the latest development, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun stressed that the law is intended to strengthen legal protections for all ethnic groups in the country. ‘Strengthening the rule of law is beneficial for better protecting the rights and interests of all ethnic groups and enhancing ethnic unity,’ Guo said. Guo also took a swipe at the United States and the European Union, accusing them of politicising China’s ethnic issues. He claimed certain countries were ignoring China’s economic and social development and its achievements in human rights governance. ‘They maliciously smear China’s ethnic policies by falsifying information, interfering in China’s internal affairs, and undermining China’s ethnic unity,’ he said. He urged the relevant parties to stop spreading ‘lies’ and exaggerating ethnic issues.