China's New Ethnic Unity Law: A Step Towards Assimilation?

China has passed a new law promoting 'ethnic unity' among its 55 ethnic minority groups, aligning them more closely with the Han majority. Known as 'Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress', the law focuses on integration in education, culture, and policy, sparking concerns about assimilative policies.

China has enacted a law aimed at fostering a 'shared' national identity among its ethnically diverse population. The legislation, known as 'Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress', has sparked criticism from those who argue that it may further dilute the unique identities of minority groups by compelling conformity to Han Chinese norms.

The law was approved at the conclusion of the National People's Congress, China's legislative body, where it received overwhelming support with only three votes against. It seeks to advance national harmony and economic rejuvenation by promoting Mandarin language and regulating inter-ethnic relations.

Mandarin will be the primary language of instruction in schools, with preferences for its use in public communication. Critics contend that the law signifies an intensified push towards assimilation, potentially marginalizing ethnic traditions in the face of central governance priorities, though government officials have advocated its necessity for social governance and national stability.

(With inputs from agencies.)