China's sweeping Ethnic Unity Law ignites fresh row over Uyghurs and Tibetans

Beijing: China has introduced a new Ethnic Unity Law to promote a 'shared national identity' among its ethnic groups. However, Taiwan, the United Nations, and human rights groups say it could restrict minority freedoms.

The Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress aims to strengthen Mandarin as the official language in China.

It is also focused on promoting greater cultural and political integration under a single national identity.

However, rights groups argue that the law could deepen pressure on ethnic minorities such as the Uyghurs and Tibetans, who have long accused Beijing of cultural repression.

Amnesty International warned that the law may ‘institutionalise forced assimilation’ and require political and ideological alignment with the Chinese Communist Party.

China, however, has rejected the allegations of rights abuses and maintains that its policies promote stability, development, and security across all ethnic groups.

Taiwan expressed 'strong condemnation' of the law on Wednesday, saying it expanded 'threats and intimidation against the people of our country and other nations'.

'In the future, individuals from any country whose words or actions are not acceptable to China may become targets of the law or be pursued under it,' its foreign ministry said.

China, on the other hand, says Taiwan is part of its territory and has threatened to use force to take control of the self-ruled, democratic island.

The law formalises existing policies to promote Mandarin as the language of education, official business and public spaces, while also addressing issues related to separatism and extremism.

Chinese officials defended the move, saying it is necessary to prevent illegal activities that threaten ethnic unity.

Several ethnic groups in China, especially in border regions, have their own languages. They have historically been allowed to use these languages alongside Mandarin in schools.

Beijing has also justified sweeping campaigns in areas with large minority populations as legitimate efforts to prevent the spread of terrorism and extremism.

United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk has called for the law to be repealed, warning that it could further restrict freedoms of language, religion, expression, and assembly.

Critics, including Uyghur and Tibetan advocacy groups, say the law is part of a broader effort to erase minority identities and expand state control over ethnic regions, while Beijing insists it is strengthening national cohesion.

AFP