China passed a new law on Thursday (local time) that Chinese authorities say will promote “ethnic unity”. But critics believe the sweeping law will erode the few remaining rights of minority groups in Beijing, the AP reported.
The “Ethnic Unity” law was approved at the annual session of parliament and is said to aim to promote “a stronger sense of community among all ethnic groups in the Chinese nation”, said Lou Qinjian, a National People’s Congress delegate who introduced the bill to the assembly.
What does China’s “Ethnic Unity” law say?
The proposed law also calls for the promotion of ethnic unity in all government bodies and private enterprises. This includes local governments and state groups such as the All-China Women’s Federation.
It stated: “People of every ethnic group, all organizations and groups of the country, the armed forces, every party and social organization, every society must create a common consciousness of the Chinese nation according to the law and the constitution and take responsibility for building this consciousness.
The Ethnic Unity Act makes Mandarin compulsory
On paper, it aims to promote unity among Beijing’s 56 officially recognized ethnic groups. Ethnic groups are dominated by the Han Chinese, who make up 90% of the country’s 1.4 billion people through education and housing. However, critics believe that this will cut off minorities from their language and culture. According to the new general law, the teaching of Mandarin will be compulsory from kindergarten until the end of high school. According to a BBC report, students were previously allowed to study most of the curriculum in their native language, such as Tibetan, Uyghur or Mongolian.
While the Chinese government says teaching the next generation Mandarin will improve their job prospects, Magnus Fiskesjö, an associate professor of anthropology at Cornell University, said the law will isolate the next generation and force them to forget their own language and culture.
Beijing also said the law to “promote ethnic unity and progress” is significant in promoting “modernization through greater unity”.
The law gives legal authority to prosecute parents
The Ethnic Unity Act also gives officials the legal power to prosecute parents or guardians who teach children what it deems to be “harmful” views that could damage the country’s ethnic harmony. China also called for the creation of an “interconnected community environment”. However, a BBC report, citing analysts, said it was likely to lead to the disintegration of neighborhoods with high concentrations of minorities.
Beijing accused of restricting the rights of minority ethnic groups
Beijing has long been accused of restricting the rights of ethnic minorities, particularly in areas such as Tibet, Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia. In Tibet, the authorities have often seized control of monasteries to prevent them from worshiping the Dalai Lama. In Xinjiang, several human rights groups have recorded the detention of more than a million Uighur Muslims. However, China has always described them as “re-education” camps, but the United Nations has accused Beijing of serious human rights violations.
In 2020, ethnic Mongolians in northern China staged demonstrations against the government after measures were taken to reduce Mongolian language instruction in favor of Mandarin.
