China's Ethnic Unity Law Takes Effect, Mandates Mandarin Nationwide

The Law on the Promotion of Ethnic Unity and Progress entered into effect on Wednesday, elevating Mandarin as the primary language of education and public life throughout China. The measure applies to the country's 56 officially recognized ethnic groups, among which Han Chinese comprise more than 90 percent of the population.

The legislation overrides long-standing regional autonomy arrangements that previously allowed minority regions greater discretion over language education and cultural preservation.

In recent years, schools in Tibet, Xinjiang, and Inner Mongolia have already shifted toward Mandarin-language instruction. The law requires parents, schools, and others responsible for children to foster ethnic unity and prohibits instilling ideas deemed harmful to ethnic unity.

It also permits Chinese authorities to pursue legal action against individuals and organizations outside China accused of undermining ethnic unity or promoting separatism.

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called for the law to be repealed. Türk stated the law risks deepening restrictions on freedoms of language, education, practice of religion, culture, expression and assembly.

Chinese officials state the policy gives students better job prospects. Newsweek reported that the law forms part of President Xi Jinping's push to Sinicize ethnic minorities. A bipartisan group of U.S.

Senators including Tim Kaine, Tammy Duckworth and Lindsey Graham issued a joint statement criticizing the law.