In a recent development that has drawn significant international attention, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has raised alarms regarding a new Chinese legislative proposal—the Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress. This law could profoundly impact minority protections within China, significantly altering the existing legal framework that has been in place since 1984. The current legislation, the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Regional National Autonomy, has provided ethnic minorities certain rights, including the use and development of their languages and the preservation of their cultural practices.
The proposed law, however, prioritizes the dominance of Mandarin Chinese and introduces stringent ideological education requirements. According to Article 15(3), minority language documents must now accompany Mandarin versions, emphasizing the “national common language.” Furthermore, Article 12 empowers state authorities to enforce ideological education intended to instill “correct views” of state, history, and religion. Article 20(2) also mandates parents to instill a sense of loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party in their children, significantly expanding the state’s reach into personal lives.
Maya Wang, associate Asia director at HRW, has expressed serious concerns about the ramifications of this legislative change, highlighting that the law may further mobilize bureaucratic and societal forces under the Communist Party’s leadership at the expense of human rights. According to Wang, individuals advocating for the rights of Tibetans, Uyghurs, and other minority groups should brace for intensified governmental repression. Details of these concerns are further discussed here.
A particularly troubling aspect of the new law is its extraterritorial provision, Article 61, which holds foreign organizations and individuals accountable for actions perceived to undermine national unity. This provision raised fears of arbitrary enforcement, formalizing what HRW describes as China’s transnational repression practices. The ambiguous wording of this provision is particularly concerning as it may pose a threat to peaceful expressions of cultural identity beyond China’s borders.
International entities have previously criticized China’s treatment of minority groups. Last month, Amnesty International criticized the lack of accountability for China’s actions in Xinjiang against Uyghur Muslims, highlighting the absence of progress since a United Nations report identified significant human rights violations. The European Union also expressed apprehension about the situation of religious, ethnic, and linguistic minorities in China, with reports of unlawful detention and enforced disappearances surfacing. In response to ongoing concerns, the United States enacted visa restrictions on Chinese officials linked to allegations of forced assimilation of Tibetan children.
In response to these mounting concerns, HRW has called for international pressure to deter the passage of the proposed legislation, which many fear would institutionalize systemic oppression and expand China’s authority to curb dissent globally. The international legal community will have to closely monitor these developments and engage in dialogues to address the potential implications for human rights and minority protections. Further discussions on the matter by Amnesty International and other organizations can provide additional perspectives.