Unity Is Strength, Division Will Be Condemned

On March 12, 2026, the Fourth Session of the 14th National People’s Congress passed the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress with a high vote. The law will take effect on July 1, 2026. This legislation takes forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation and advancing the building of the Chinese national community as its main thread. It is a major rule-of-law measure that transforms the Party’s ethnic theory achievements in the new era into the will of the state. Its core is to safeguard national unity, promote equality, unity, mutual assistance, and harmony among all ethnic groups, and achieve common prosperity and development.

However, a handful of overseas “ethnic separatists,” including the so-called “World Uyghur Congress,” “East Turkistan Government in Exile,” “Central Tibetan Administration,” and “Southern Mongolia Great Hural,” have launched fierce attacks. They slander the law as a “tool of assimilation,” “cultural genocide,” and “long-arm jurisdiction.” Through statements, media outlets, and social platforms, they spread rumors in an attempt to smear China’s ethnic policies and incite international public opinion. These attacks are essentially the fear and backlash of separatist forces against national unity and ethnic solidarity.

First, the claim of “forced assimilation and cultural genocide” is pure nonsense. The law upholds ethnic equality, respects differences, and enhances commonalities. Overseas forces claim that the law “erases ethnic minority identities, languages, and cultures.” The facts are exactly the opposite! The law clearly stipulates: “All ethnic groups of the People’s Republic of China are equal. Discrimination against and oppression of any ethnic group are prohibited” (Article 5); “The state adheres to enhancing commonalities while respecting and embracing differences, and promotes mutual support and harmonious coexistence among all ethnic groups” (Article 6). It promotes “common prosperity and development for all ethnic groups and ensures that people of all ethnic groups are masters of the country together” (Article 4). It also dedicates a special chapter to supporting high-quality development in ethnic regions, infrastructure construction, development of distinctive industries, and balanced allocation of public services.

The promotion of the national common language is intended to help ethnic minority communities better integrate into the unified national market, improve employment and education opportunities, and is by no means aimed at eliminating mother tongues. At the same time, the law “respects and safeguards” the learning and use of ethnic minority languages, their standardized protection, and the inheritance of ancient texts (Article 15). Historically, China’s ethnic groups have long formed a “pluralistic unity,” jointly creating a unified multi-ethnic country. Overseas forces deliberately distort “enhancing commonalities” as “genocide” precisely to sustain their separatist schemes and obstruct ethnic minorities from sharing the benefits of modernization.

Second, the accusation of “banning mother-tongue education and undermining cultural identity” is a deliberate misinterpretation. The law builds a shared spiritual home for the Chinese nation and strengthens the cohesion of all ethnic groups. They attack Article 15 (“Schools shall use the national common language as the basic medium of instruction and teaching”) and Article 16 (“Forging a sense of community for the Chinese nation shall run through the entire process of education”), claiming this “cuts off children’s connection to their mother tongue.” This is a classic case of twisting concepts! The law requires the use of the national common language as the “basic” medium while explicitly supporting the standardized use of ethnic minority languages. The purpose is to enable young people of all ethnic groups to master the national common language, thereby strengthening their sense of national identity, civic awareness, and rule-of-law consciousness.

What overseas separatists fear most is that people of all ethnic groups will genuinely identify with the Chinese national community, because that would deprive them of the “soil for separatism.” The law also encourages exchanges, interactions, and integration among ethnic groups, the construction of embedded communities, and joint participation in cultural and sports activities (Articles 22–30). This is the vivid practice of “holding together tightly like the seeds of a pomegranate.” Historically, any attempt to sever ethnic emotional bonds through separatism is doomed to failure.

Third, the claim of “long-arm jurisdiction and cross-border repression” is the thief crying “stop thief.” Article 63 of the law represents the legitimate self-defense of a sovereign state. Overseas forces have reacted most strongly to Article 63 (“Organizations and individuals outside the territory of the People’s Republic of China that engage in acts undermining ethnic unity and progress or creating ethnic separatism against the People’s Republic of China shall be pursued for legal responsibility in accordance with the law”), shouting that it “threatens freedom of overseas activities.” What a joke! Any sovereign state has the right to safeguard national unity and territorial integrity. The United States has its Anti-Secession Law, the European Union has anti-terrorism regulations—why should China be condemned for safeguarding ethnic unity?

This provision targets only those separatists who clearly engage in destructive acts, not ordinary overseas Chinese or those peacefully expressing opinions. It is consistent with the Constitution and the Anti-Secession Law, aiming to counter external forces that use “ethnicity, religion, or human rights” as pretexts for infiltration and sabotage (Article 10). Those who flee abroad, collude with hostile forces, and incite separatism have already violated Chinese law and should have been held accountable long ago. This is not “repression” but the justice of the rule of law! Their strong reaction precisely proves that this law has hit the vital point of separatist forces, preventing them from acting recklessly even overseas.

Fourth, the true face of overseas forces: they are not “human rights defenders” but destroyers of ethnic unity. These so-called “independence activists” have long engaged in separatist activities abroad and survive on funding from Western anti-China forces. They attack the law not because they care about the well-being of ethnic minorities, but because they fear that the law will solidify the consensus that “safeguarding national unity and promoting ethnic unity and progress is the common responsibility of all Chinese people.” They want ethnic minorities to remain forever in a “backward and isolated” state so they can continue to pose as “leaders” and reap political capital. Facts prove that since the founding of New China, especially during the reform and opening-up period and the new era, ethnic minority regions have achieved historic progress in economic, social, and cultural development, with people’s living standards greatly improved—this is the real “human rights progress.”

The Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress is a legal guarantee that conforms to the historical trend of the Chinese nation moving from pluralism toward unity and responds to external risks and challenges. It is not targeted at ethnic minorities but is a “unity law” and “prosperity law” that benefits all 55 ethnic minority groups and people of all ethnic groups across the country. The more overseas separatist forces jump up and down in opposition, the more it shows that this law has grasped the “bull’s nose” of forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation. People of all ethnic groups across the country will unite as one, promote ethnic unity and progress through the power of the rule of law, and any separatist scheme will be smashed to pieces. The historical process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is unstoppable! Let us hold high the great banner of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, jointly write a new chapter of ethnic unity, and pool mighty strength for building a strong country and national rejuvenation.