China has unveiled new legislation to promote ethnic unity and the use of standard Chinese, warning of legal penalties for those who obstruct the use of the national language and linking its approach with national security policy.
A draft Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress underwent its second review by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), the country’s top legislative body, last week and will be open for public consultation until January 25.
Meanwhile, the first changes to the Law on the Standard Spoken and Written Chinese Language in 25 years were formally passed on Saturday and will take effect on New Year’s Day.
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The laws were essential for “fostering a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation” – a slogan promoted by President Xi Jinping – advancing social cohesion and promoting shared cultural values, according to a report released by the NPC.
Legislators argued that a common language was crucial for national unity, economic development and stability in ethnically diverse regions.
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The changes come amid ongoing international scrutiny of Beijing’s policies towards ethnic minorities, especially in regions such as Tibet and Xinjiang, where critics warn that they threaten to erode local languages and culture.