China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) has overwhelmingly approved a new law aimed at promoting «ethnic unity» and strengthening the use of Mandarin as the country’s national common language.
The Law Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress was passed with 2,756 votes in favor, three abstentions and three votes against. Around 442 representatives from ethnic minority groups participated in the vote, accounting for roughly 14% of lawmakers.
The legislation, which will take effect on July 1, seeks to «forge a strong sense of the community of the Chinese people» and support national unity, according to its first article.
China officially recognizes 56 ethnic groups within its population of about 1.4 billion people. The Han majority makes up around 92% of the population, while the remaining groups, including the Hui, Uyghurs, Tibetans and Mongols, are classified as ethnic minorities.
Under the new law, schools and other educational institutions must use Mandarin as the primary language of instruction. Authorities say the measure will help eliminate social disadvantages faced by minority groups.
However, critics argue the law could intensify pressure on minority cultures, particularly in regions such as Xinjiang and Tibet, by limiting the use of local languages and expanding government control over cultural and religious expression.
Human rights advocates warn the legislation may also provide legal grounds for further restrictions on ethnic minorities under the framework of national security and anti-extremism policies.
