The Chinese government is preparing to pass a new law—the Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress—at the National People’s Congress session, aiming to strengthen control and assimilation policies in ethnic minority regions. The government emphasizes that this law will help promote ethnic unity and advance modernization, while requiring local officials to enhance education for minors and guide cross-ethnic integration.
The law designates Mandarin as the primary language, restricts the use of minority languages in education, and encourages inter-ethnic marriages—attempting to institutionalize cultural assimilation. Additionally, it prohibits any actions undermining “ethnic unity” through broad provisions and mandates that religious activities align with Chinese culture and values as defined by the Chinese Communist Party.
Historically, Xinjiang and Tibet have witnessed multiple uprisings or conflicts against Beijing’s rule. Citing security concerns, Beijing authorities have imposed high-pressure controls locally, including closing mosques, restricting Tibetan Buddhist monastery activities, and limiting minority language education. This new law codifies previously policy-level measures into legal norms, providing central and local officials with explicit legal grounds for enforcement.
Commentary:
While ostensibly aimed at “promoting ethnic unity and advancing modernization,” the Ethnic Unity and Progress Promotion Law is fundamentally an institutionalized tool for suppressing minority cultures, languages, and religions, reflecting the central government’s intensified control over ethnic minorities. By prioritizing Mandarin, restricting minority language use, and directly intervening in family and community life through interethnic marriage incentives and educational guidance, the law severely undermines minorities’ autonomy in choosing their culture and identity.
Moreover, the law’s vague clause on “undermining ethnic unity” grants officials broad discretionary power, potentially serving as a legal basis for suppressing dissent or cultural expression. This could further exacerbate social tensions in regions like Xinjiang, Tibet, and Inner Mongolia. If fully implemented, this law could accelerate the disappearance of ethnic minority cultures, inflicting long-term and profoundly negative impacts on ethnic diversity, social harmony, and the preservation of local cultural heritage.