China law boosts Mandarin status, faces global criticism

China has enacted a new law that strengthens the status of Mandarin as the national language and establishes legal grounds for pursuing actions against individuals overseas, drawing immediate criticism from human rights groups, the United Nations, and Taiwan. The Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress took effect on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, after being passed by the National People's Congress in March.

Chinese authorities state the legislation aims to forge a shared national identity. A senior judicial official defended the law last week, saying it targets illegal acts that undermine ethnic unity or incite separatism. The government has consistently denied allegations of rights abuses against ethnic minorities, maintaining that its policies ensure security and development.

Critics, however, warn the law institutionalizes forced assimilation and threatens cultural rights. Amnesty International's Deputy Regional Director, Sarah Brooks, said the law requires political alignment with the Chinese Communist Party and pushes ethnic groups to adopt a state-defined identity dominated by Han Chinese culture. She argued it contradicts international human rights obligations to protect...