China warns minorities to integrate or face consequences under sweeping new law

China has implemented a new and far-reaching "Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress," which officially came into effect on July 1, 2026. This legislation mandates that the nation's 56 recognized ethnic minority groups integrate more fully into the dominant Chinese culture, aiming to forge a shared national identity and strengthen overall cohesion. The law emphasizes the use of Mandarin Chinese in schools and government, and requires educational curricula to instill a strong sense of Chinese national community and loyalty to the Communist Party.

The new law introduces measures that prohibit activities perceived to "undermine ethnic unity or create ethnic division," with potential consequences for non-compliance both within and outside China's borders. International bodies and human rights organizations, including the UN and Amnesty International, have voiced significant concerns, warning that the law risks escalating forced assimilation policies and further restricting the cultural, linguistic, and religious freedoms of minority populations like Uyghurs and Tibetans. Critics also fear the broad nature of the law's terms could lead to arbitrary enforcement and provide a legal basis for transnational repression against those advocating for minority rights abroad.