China to Enforce 'Ethnic Unity Law' Next Month; Taiwan Concerned Over Extraterritorial Provisions

As China’s "Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress," which prioritizes the use of the Chinese language among ethnic minorities and punishes acts of ethnic separatism, is set to take effect next month, local authorities have emphasized the legitimacy of the law's extraterritorial application.

According to China’s state-run China News Service on June 24, Hu Weilie, Vice Minister of Justice, stated at a press conference held by the State Council Information Office that the extraterritorial application clause of the Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress is "a normal legislative activity carried out by a sovereign state in accordance with the law and is in line with the basic principles of international law."

The law, which was passed by the National People's Congress (NPC) in March and will come into effect on July 1, aims to strengthen the sense of community among all Chinese people, including the 55 ethnic minorities.

In particular, Article 63 of the law stipulates that organizations or individuals outside China’s borders can also be held legally accountable if they engage in "acts that undermine ethnic unity and progress or incite ethnic separatism."

This has raised concerns in Taiwan that the law could be used as a basis to target individuals who support Taiwanese independence or oppose China’s unification policies. Some foreign media outlets, including The New York Times (NYT) and the Financial Times (FT), have characterized the law as a reduction of minority rights and an imposition of identity.

While not naming specific media outlets, Vice Minister Hu pointed out, "Recently, Western media have distorted Article 63 of the Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress, disparaging it as an 'abuse of jurisdiction,' but this is not objective and goes against the spirit of legal principles." He argued that countries around the world have the right to prevent separatism and destructive acts through legislation to maintain social integration and normal order.

He further explained, "The extraterritorial application clause is intended to prevent various illegal acts related to ethnicity that occur outside the country," adding, "It will not affect normal personnel exchanges, academic discussions, or economic and trade cooperation."

Voices of opposition continue to emerge in Taiwan.

On the same day, Taiwan’s Central News Agency (CNA) cited scholars and civic group representatives in Taiwan, reporting that the law could expose Taiwanese people to legal and political risks.

Hung Fu-chao, deputy director of the Center for Mainland China and Regional Development Studies at Tunghai University in Taiwan, predicted that the implementation of this law would lead to entry bans, sanctions, public shaming, and business pressures against Taiwanese individuals.

He noted that Taiwanese people who frequently travel between the two sides (China and Taiwan) for work, investment, or family reasons would be the first to be affected, and the scope could extend to scholars, journalists, civic groups, and political commentators.

A Taiwanese national security official, who requested anonymity, told the media outlet, "In a political context, issues regarding Taiwan's sovereignty or human rights in Xinjiang and Tibet could all be considered 'acts that undermine ethnic unity'."

The Taiwan Alliance, a coalition of pro-independence civic groups in Taiwan, issued a statement on the same day, defining the Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress as "transnational repression" and expressing their condemnation.

(Photo: Getty Images)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.