China's ethnic unity law has raised concerns among human rights defenders.
China's supreme legislative body, the National People's Congress, last week approved a new law aimed at strengthening ethnic unity and development. Zamin.uz reported on this.
The document identifies strengthening a common sense of patriotism among all peoples living within the country as its primary task. The law assigns specific responsibilities to public organizations, commercial enterprises, and military units to ensure ethnic unity.
According to the new regulations, Mandarin Chinese is given priority as the official language in public places. This situation has sparked serious concern among human rights defenders, as 55 different ethnic groups live in China, and most of them strive to preserve their native languages and traditions.
Currently, the use of the Chinese language in school education has already been made mandatory in regions such as Tibet and Inner Mongolia. International jurists and organizations emphasize that the new law could further increase pressure on the Muslim Uyghur people.
Others are accusing the Beijing government of weakening children's connection to their own history and culture. The scope of the law extends beyond China's borders, requiring strengthened ties with overseas Chinese communities.
Furthermore, foreign citizens who undermine the country's national unity or promote the establishment of a separate state may also face legal liability. This law was adopted on the final day of the annual two sessions and is considered a significant step defining China's future political direction.
This year also coincides with the start of a new five-year development plan. This plan sets an economic and political roadmap for the period from 2026 to 230.
Prime Minister Li Qiang set the GDP growth target for this year in the range of 4.5 to 5 percent. This figure is being recorded as the lowest level in thirty years of history.
Observers say this indicates that China's growth rates are slowing down and the country is reconsidering its place in the global economy. Artificial intelligence has become a key pillar of the new plan, with the government viewing it as an instrument for national development in competition with the United States.
The government plans to shift the economy towards growth based on domestic consumption. In foreign policy, Beijing is striving to improve relations with the European Union and the United States, although disagreements with Japan over Taiwan are intensifying.
