China's New Law Aims at National Unity, Raises Assimilation Fears

A new law aimed at promoting ethnic unity and progress came into effect in China on July 1. The Chinese government says the law is designed to foster a shared national identity among the country's 56 officially recognised ethnic groups. However, human rights groups and the United Nations have expressed concerns that the legislation could lead to forced assimilation and suppress minority cultures.

The Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress was passed by China's National People's Congress on March 12. It creates a nationwide legal framework for policies that have been developing since 2014, when President Xi Jinping convened a central ethnic work conference. Previously, provinces such as Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia had enacted local regulations; the new law elevates these to a national level.

Key provisions include Article 15, which mandates teaching Mandarin Chinese to all children before kindergarten and throughout compulsory education. Article 46 requires religious organisations and places of worship to promote the 'Sinicisation' of religion, meaning aligning religious practices with Chinese laws and regulations. Article 63 extends the law's reach beyond China's borders, holding organisations or individuals outside the country legally responsible for acts that 'undermine national unity' or 'create national division'.

The United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR) warned that the law could threaten freedoms, especially for minorities. Amnesty International's Deputy Regional Director, Sarah Brooks, said the law 'does the opposite' of protecting minority communities, instead pushing groups such as Uyghurs, Tibetans and Mongolians to adopt a single, state-defined national identity.

According to China's 2020 census, ethnic minorities make up 8.89% of the population, or about 125 million people, including around 11 million Uyghurs and 7 million Tibetans. The majority Han Chinese account for over 90% of the population.

Supporters of the law argue it helps build a 'community of the Chinese nation' and is in line with the constitution. However, critics point out that the constitution also guarantees ethnic minorities the right to use their own languages and to self-rule. The broad and undefined terms such as 'undermining national unity' have raised fears that the law could be used to suppress peaceful expression, activism, or cultural practices.