China's Ethnic Unity Law Draws US Congressional Condemnation and Diplomatic Rebuttal

China enacted the Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress law on July 1, a measure that elevates Mandarin, seeks a unified national identity for its 55 minority groups and includes a provision permitting Chinese authorities to prosecute individuals abroad for actions deemed to threaten “national unity” or incite “separatism.”

U.S. lawmakers responded with a bipartisan House resolution condemning the law, labeling it a tool of forced assimilation and transnational repression, and urging sanctions, visa restrictions and coordination with allies. At the same time, China’s foreign ministry, through spokesperson Guo Jiakun, rejected the criticism, urging countries to “stop spreading falsehoods” about the legislation and accusing them of interfering in China’s internal affairs. International bodies, including the U.N. rights chief and Amnesty International, have called for the law’s repeal, citing risks to the rights of Tibetans, Uyghurs, Mongolians and other minorities, while Taiwan warned it could expand intimidation against its people.