China cuts back on the rights of ethnic minorities

BeijingChina has passed a law that will curtail the rights of minorities, under the pretext of defending social cohesion and national unity. From now on, minority languages ​​will disappear from education, religious practices will be monitored, and intermarriage will be encouraged. The so-called law to promote ethnic unity and progress, passed by the National People's Congress (NPC), is justified as supporting the development of ethnic minority communities. However, human rights groups consider it a tool of repression.

In China, diversity is not a problem. More than 90% of the population is Han Chinese, and the rest is divided among 55 officially recognized minorities. However, the Chinese government has decided to legislate to further promote national cohesion by assimilating different ethnicities to achieve a homogeneous society under Han culture. The law is presented positively as promoting the integration of ethnic groups through education, housing, community life, and development. However, this translates into Mandarin being the official language in schools, as well as in administration and public spaces. It even specifies that Mandarin must be prominent when used alongside minority languages, having "prominence in placement, order, and similar aspects." Not teaching minority languages ​​in schools threatens their survival, as they may disappear if their use is limited to the family sphere and primarily oral. The new legislation also requires religious practices to adhere to "the Sinicization of religion," meaning they must be practiced under the control of the Chinese Communist Party. Furthermore, while housing policies aim to promote integration and eliminate ghettos, they will also disperse communities, making it more difficult for them to preserve their cultural identity.

Mixed marriages will also be encouraged to promote the integrationAnd, in general terms, any act that could harm "ethnic unity" is prohibited. This means that the law will serve to punish any practice that could be classified as "terrorist, ethnic separatist, or religiously extremist activities."

Since coming to power in 2012, Xi Jinping has focused on the assimilation of minorities and the creation of a unified national consciousness under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party. In this sense, the new regulations do not represent major changes because assimilation policies have been developing for years. But by giving it the status of national law, this policy is reinforced and it is made clear that it must be applied.

Restrictions for years

Since 2020, Mongolian language instruction has been steadily declining in schools in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. This sparked protests that were swiftly suppressed. Similarly, Mongolian-language newspapers and websites have shrunk by 80%.

In Xinjiang, the UN has denounced human rights violations and documented that over a million Uyghurs have been detained in camps that China has dubbed "re-education" centers. There are also reports of forced sterilizations and the closure of mosques. Furthermore, since before the 2008 Olympic Games, China has suppressed Tibetan protests. It has curtailed their rights, such as the right to study in their language in school, and also controls their monasteries. Moreover, in both Tibet and Xinjiang, immigration from the Han population has been encouraged, with financial assistance provided to settle there. The result is that in both territories, the ethnic minority population now controls the economy.

Human Rights Watch highlights that the new legislation represents a radical shift from the policy implemented by Deng Xiaoping, which guaranteed the right of minorities to use their language. The Constitution of the People's Republic of China recognizes that the country is made up of 56 ethnic groups (including the Han), who have the right to use their language.

The new law was passed during the closing session of the National People's Congress, in an auditorium where the colorful traditional costumes of the minority delegates stood out, contrasting with the dark colors of the majority and the green of the military. The new legislation was approved by 2,756 votes in favor, three against, and three abstentions. It will come into effect next July.

Minorities make up a very small percentage of China's 1.4 billion inhabitants, but their regions comprise almost half of the People's Republic's territory. The provinces of Tibet, Xinjiang, and Inner Mongolia, in particular, are large and sparsely populated, yet rich in natural resources such as rare earth elements. Major trade routes also pass through these areas.