On June 7, 2024, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution A/RES/78/286, proclaiming June 10 each year as the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations. The resolution was proposed by China and co-sponsored by more than 80 countries. It emphasizes that the achievements of all civilizations are the “collective heritage of mankind.” The resolution also highlights the importance of respecting cultural diversity and recognizes dialogue as playing a “critical role” in maintaining global peace, promoting common development, enhancing human well-being, and achieving shared progress.
On March 12 this year, the Fourth Session of the 14th National People’s Congress passed the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress, which came into effect on July 1. On March 14, following the law’s passage, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk stated that the legislation “may restrict education in minority languages and freedom of religious belief.” Subsequently, the European Parliament argued that the law “encourages assimilation policies, restricts cultural, religious, and linguistic freedoms, and violates China’s obligations under international law.” It called on the Chinese government to repeal the law and “condemned the serious consequences the law may have for populations in Tibet, Xinjiang, and Inner Mongolia.”
A spokesperson for China’s Mission to the European Union responded that the European Parliament’s resolution “disregards facts and legal principles, maliciously smears China’s laws and ethnic policies, and grossly interferes in China’s internal affairs.” China expressed its “strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition” and stated that it had lodged solemn representations with the European side.
On June 10, the Chinese Consulate-General in Melbourne held an event at the Box Hill Town Hall to mark both “Chinese Ethnic Unity Day” and the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations, combining two matters that are essentially unrelated. Federal Member for Chisholm Gabriel Ng, along with representatives of the Victorian Government and the Opposition, attended and delivered remarks on the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations. However, the official statements issued by the Consulate and reports carried by Chinese media focused primarily on the theme of “Chinese Ethnic Unity,” promoting the legislation that came into effect on July 1. Wondering whether the Australian politicians who attended the event were aware that their presence could be interpreted as endorsing the highly controversial Ethnic Unity Law, a law that has attracted significant criticism in Western societies.
In reality, this is not an uncommon situation in Australia. Politicians frequently attend events that appear to be community or cultural gatherings but are, in substance, opportunities to promote Chinese government policies or to cultivate influence within the Chinese community through united front activities. Today’s politicians seem to have lost a basic sense of vigilance—or perhaps they have come to view building closer relationships with Chinese officials and influential figures as one of their working agenda.
That is a worrying development.
Mr Raymond Chow