ETGE Denounces China's New Ethnic Unity Legislation as Coercive Assimilation Policy
The East Turkistan Government in Exile (ETGE) has issued a strong condemnation and rejection of what it terms Beijing's recently enacted "Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress." This legislation was officially approved by the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China on March 12, 2026. In a detailed statement released on its official platform, the ETGE argues that while the law is framed as a measure to foster ethnic harmony, it actually establishes a legal framework that could enforce Han Chinese identity, language, and culture upon non-Han communities across China.
Allegations of Cultural Imposition and Discrimination
According to the ETGE, the new law significantly expands the mandatory use of Mandarin Chinese in key areas such as education, media, and public life, while simultaneously imposing restrictions on the use of minority languages, including Uyghur, Tibetan, and Mongolian. The organization alleges that these actions violate international principles against racial discrimination and represent a systematic effort to erase the cultural and linguistic heritage of these ethnic groups.
The statement further accuses Beijing of implementing policies of forced assimilation, demographic restructuring, and settlement programs aimed at altering the ethnic composition of regions like East Turkistan, Tibet, and Southern Mongolia. The ETGE claims that provisions within the law criminalize actions deemed to "damage ethnic unity," which could potentially target expressions of ethnic identity, religious practices, and cultural preservation among non-Han populations.
Concerns Over Religious Freedom and Extraterritorial Reach
Additionally, the ETGE highlights that the legislation requires religious institutions to adhere to the Chinese Communist Party's policy of "Sinicization," placing all religious activities under heightened state oversight and control. This move is seen as a direct threat to the autonomy and traditional practices of religious communities in these regions.
The organization also raises alarm over the law's extraterritorial implications, noting that it allows Chinese authorities to take action against individuals outside China if their activities are perceived to undermine "ethnic unity." This could affect diaspora communities, activists, scholars, and journalists abroad, potentially leading to increased surveillance and repression on a global scale.
Historical Context and International Call to Action
In the statement, Salih Hudayar, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Security of the ETGE, described the law as a comprehensive plan that threatens the identity, language, and religious practices of communities in East Turkistan, Tibet, and Southern Mongolia. He urged the international community to take immediate notice of these developments.
The ETGE links this new legislation to broader policies implemented since 2014 under what the Chinese government refers to as the People's War on Terror. The organization alleges that these policies have resulted in mass detentions, forced labor, and severe restrictions on cultural and religious practices in the affected regions.
Concluding its statement, the ETGE called on governments, international institutions, and organizations worldwide to condemn the legislation, impose targeted sanctions on Chinese officials associated with these policies, and support what it describes as the right to self-determination for the impacted communities. The group emphasizes the need for global solidarity to address what it views as a grave human rights issue.
