China Enacts Ethnic Unity Law Targeting Overseas Critics and Mandating Mandarin in Schools

A new Chinese law granting authorities the power to act against people outside the country accused of undermining ethnic unity came into effect on Wednesday. " Zhang Yadi, 23, also known as Tara, is one case cited by rights groups. She is believed to be in detention after her arrest in Shangri-La, Yunnan province, in July 2025.

While studying in France and the UK, she posted support for the Dalai Lama and helped edit an online platform promoting Tibetan rights. " The law also requires that all children be taught Mandarin before kindergarten and through the end of high school. It applies to China's 56 recognised ethnic groups.

Han Chinese make up more than 90 percent of the country's 1.4 billion people. Deputy Justice Minister Hu Weilie defended the legislation at a press conference last month. " Sarah Brooks, Amnesty International's Deputy Regional Director, said the law requires conformity rather than protecting diversity.

'" A report released earlier this year by PEN America and the Southern Mongolian Human Rights Information Center documented the removal of Mongolian-language content from Chinese online platforms. Erika Nguyen, senior manager at PEN America's PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Center and co-author of the study, said Article 63 should be seen as a call for other countries to increase protection for exiled writers and activists.

Members of the European Parliament have written to member states warning them to consider suspending extradition treaties with China.

The UN has accused Beijing of grave human rights violations in Xinjiang, where human rights groups have documented the detention of a million Uyghur Muslims in camps the government calls "re-education" camps. In 2020, ethnic Mongolians in northern China staged rallies against measures reducing Mongolian-language teaching in favour of Mandarin. China annexed the Tibet Autonomous Region in 1950.