China on Thursday passed an “ethnic unity” law that rights advocates warned could further marginalize minority groups such as the Uyghurs.
The law passed by the National People’s Congress lays down policies to promote Mandarin as the “National Common Language” in education, official business and public places.
The Chinese government has been accused of pursuing coercive policies across the vast country for decades on the Han majority.
Social cohesion is a key focus of the new “racial unity” law, which criminalizes engaging in “violent terrorist activities, ethnic separatist activities, or religious extremist activities”.
The law aims to “strengthen unity” within China, which the legislation argues is undergoing unprecedented social change.
China officially recognizes 55 ethnic minorities within its borders that speak hundreds of languages and dialects.
Government policies already dictate that Mandarin Chinese be used as the language of instruction in some regions with large minority populations, such as Tibet and Inner Mongolia.
Yalkun Uluyol, China researcher at Human Rights Watch, described the new legislation as a “significant departure” from Deng Xiaoping-era policy that guaranteed minorities the right to use their own languages.
Educational institutions are now required to use Mandarin as the main language of instruction. Teenagers are now required to have a “basic grasp” of Mandarin after completing compulsory education.
No minority languages are specifically mentioned in the new law, although it may affect Uyghur, Mongolian and Tibetan speakers.
“It is no coincidence that the law targets places where children are most likely to encounter their mother tongue,” PEN America’s Erika Nguyen told AFP.
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“Intended to sever children’s ties to their identity, history and culture.”
A recent report by PEN and the Southern Mongolian Human Rights Information Center (SMHRIC) stated that more than 80 percent of Mongolian-language websites are “censored or banned” in China.
Fluency in Mandarin in public life can hinder Mongolian-speakers’ chances of advancing professionally, SMHRIC director Enghebatu Togochog said in a statement.
“Economically, this marginalizes Mongolians, as Chinese fluency becomes a gatekeeper for jobs and progress,” Togochog said.
The law says its provisions can be applied even outside China’s borders.
While it calls for “strengthening ties” with overseas Chinese communities, it warns that people outside China who “engage in activities that undermine ethnic unity” or incite “ethnic separatism” will be held legally accountable.
(With FRANCE 24 AFP)
(Tags to translate)Asia / Pacific(T)China(T)Language
