China enacts sweeping ethnic unity law, mandating Mandarin and national integration

China has enacted a sweeping ethnic unity law , formally titled the Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress , a major step toward consolidating state control over minority affairs. Approved overwhelmingly by the National People’s Congress on March 12 and effective July 1, 2026 , the law is intended to foster national cohesion among China’s 56 recognized ethnic groups. Beijing frames it as a framework for unity, shared development, and social stability, while critics argue it undermines minority rights and accelerates cultural assimilation.

The legislation mandates Mandarin Chinese as the primary language in schools and public life, while claiming minority languages will still be “respected and protected.” It requires all government bodies, state-affiliated institutions, private enterprises, social organizations, and citizens to foster a common identity under the banner of the Chinese nation. The law also promotes integrated communities, encourages interethnic connections, and emphasizes alignment with central governance, cultural norms, and economic development goals. Legal provisions allow action against individuals or organizations abroad whose activities are deemed harmful to ethnic unity, echoing aspects of the 2020 National Security Law in Hong Kong.

Beijing portrays the law as a step toward modernization and equal participation of minority areas in national life, codifying long-standing policies into enforceable legislation. Human rights groups, however, say it represents a significant departure from China’s prior constitutional and legal guarantees of minority autonomy. While the constitution and the Law on Regional Ethnic Autonomy affirm the rights of minorities to preserve languages, traditions, and limited self-rule, the new law prioritizes Mandarin and centralized integration, effectively reducing space for regional autonomy and cultural preservation.

The law is expected to have major impacts on Uyghurs, Tibetans, Mongols, and other minority groups . In Xinjiang , Uyghurs already face mass surveillance, detention, and restrictions on cultural expression, and the law may reinforce assimilation policies. In Inner Mongolia , Mongolian-medium instruction was largely replaced by Mandarin textbooks in 2020, sparking protests and a crackdown; the new law formalizes this policy nationwide. Tibetan communities have long been subject to Mandarin-focused education, and scholars warn that the law could further marginalize Tibetan language and traditions. Other minorities, including the Zhuang, Hui, Manchu, Koreans, Miao, and Yi, may experience similar pressures in schools, public offices, and cultural institutions.

China’s population of roughly 1.4 billion is overwhelmingly Han Chinese (91%), with minorities making up about 8.9% (~125 million people). Many minorities are concentrated in western and border regions such as Xinjiang, Tibet, Inner Mongolia, Yunnan, and Guizhou. Experts say the law could legitimize surveillance, restrictions on mother-tongue education, and policies that limit the expression of distinct cultural identities.

Internationally, the law has raised concern in Taiwan , where officials warn that extraterritorial clauses could be interpreted to target individuals or groups perceived as undermining China’s territorial claims. Scholars note the law reflects President Xi Jinping’s long-term strategy to prioritize a “common consciousness of the Chinese nation,” combining ideological control with cultural assimilation under the guise of national unity.