Human Rights Watch (HRW) issued a stark warning on Sunday, cautioning that a new legislative proposal in China, the Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress, poses significant threats to the rights and freedoms of ethnic minorities within and beyond its borders. The draft law, submitted to the National People's Congress on September 8, marks a significant shift from China's 1984 Law of the People's Republic of China on Regional National Autonomy, which protected minority languages and cultural practices.

The contentious aspects of the new legislation include mandatory Mandarin translations for documents in minority languages, with the national language to be given prominence, suggesting a move towards linguistic uniformity. More so, the legislation introduces compulsory ideological education, aimed at instilling "correct views" of the state, history, and religion, with Article 20(2) going as far as mandating parents to educate minors to "love the Chinese Communist Party."

Maya Wang, associate Asia director at HRW, expressed grave concerns, stating, “The Chinese government’s draft law seeks to mobilize bureaucracy and society to unite under Chinese Communist Party leadership at the expense of human rights... Tibetans, Uyghurs, and others advocating for minority populations can expect even greater government repression.”

Particularly alarming is the law’s extraterritorial reach. Article 61 allows for the prosecution of organizations and individuals outside China who are deemed to "undermine national unity." This provision, according to HRW, could formalize China’s practices of transnational repression, potentially leading to arbitrary enforcement against those peacefully expressing their cultural identities abroad.

The international community has previously voiced concerns over China’s treatment of ethnic minorities. Instances include a UN report detailing violations against Uyghurs, and EU and US responses to the treatment of Tibetan and Uyghur populations. HRW is now calling for global pressure to prevent the passage of this law, arguing it would not only codify oppression within China but also extend Beijing's reach to suppress dissent worldwide.

This report underscores a continuing pattern of criticism facing China's policies towards minority groups, emphasizing the growing urgency for international scrutiny and intervention to safeguard fundamental human rights.