It’s referred to as the Regulation on Selling Ethnic Unity and Progress—China’s latest regulation underneath President Xi Jinping, handed on March 12, 2026, and in impact since July 1, 2026.
The regulation comprises 65 articles, a lot of which have raised considerations amongst Tibetans and rights teams. On this explainer, we give attention to 4 key areas of the regulation which have drawn essentially the most consideration: identification, language, faith, and its attain past China’s borders.
First, it seeks to reshape how ethnic identification is known in China. The regulation calls on Tibetans, Uyghurs, Mongolians, and different ethnic teams to construct what it describes as “a robust sense of group for the Chinese language nation,” putting a shared nationwide identification on the heart of ethnic coverage.
Second, it adjustments the authorized framework round language. Below Article 15, Mandarin is given precedence in schooling and authorities affairs. Whereas the regulation says minority languages are “revered and guarded,” it additionally states that when Mandarin and minority languages are used collectively, Mandarin ought to take precedence in place and order.
Third, it expands state oversight of faith. Article 46 requires non secular teams, non secular colleges, and locations of worship to advertise a way of group for the Chinese language nation, comply with the coverage of “Sinicization of faith,” and information non secular actions to adapt to socialist society. Critics say this might additional improve state management over non secular practices, together with Tibetan Buddhism.
Fourth, and some of the internationally scrutinized provisions, is Article 63, which extends the regulation’s attain past China’s borders. It states that anybody residing exterior China might face authorized penalties if Beijing determines their actions undermine “ethnic unity” or create “ethnic division.”
Beijing frames all of this as safety and growth, equal rights for all ethnic teams, and continued funding in poorer areas. Officers level to new colleges, infrastructure, and job applications in locations like Tibet and Xinjiang as proof of that dedication.
However the regulation’s attain goes effectively past colleges and language. It additionally hyperlinks ethnic affairs on to nationwide safety, calling for motion in opposition to what it defines as separatism, extremism, and terrorism, each inside China and overseas.
Critics say the regulation provides authorized backing to insurance policies that had been already being carried out in minority areas. They argue that placing these insurance policies into regulation might enable authorities to implement them extra broadly and with fewer limits.
In Xinjiang, this builds on years of mass detention documented in Uyghur communities.
In Inside Mongolia, a preview got here in 2020, when new Mandarin-language mandates in colleges triggered mass protests and a purge of native officers.
In Tibet, it builds on current restrictions round non secular educating and Mandarin-medium schooling.
The priority isn’t restricted to human rights teams. In June, the United Nations human rights chief, Volker Türk, referred to as on China to repeal the regulation, warning it dangers violating a number of worldwide treaties China has ratified, and will deepen restrictions on language, faith, tradition, and expression for ethnic minorities.
No matter this regulation is in the end referred to as—unity or assimilation—it’s now in impact. And its influence is prone to be felt for years to come back, in Tibet, Xinjiang, Inside Mongolia, and past.
RFA Tibetan spoke with regional consultants, rights advocates, and a Chinese language authorities spokesperson for his or her feedback on the brand new regulation:
Frank Lehberger, sinologist
“That is nonetheless not a latest reversal of insurance policies, however a concretization of authorized, ideological and brutally repressive ethnic coverage.”
Brahma Chellaney, geostrategist
“Tibet may even see its demographic stability shift in such a manner as to make the area indistinguishable from provinces within the Chinese language heartland.”
“The 2026 regulation supplies the authorized framework for breaking apart minority-heavy areas by transferring Han Chinese language into them whereas relocating minorities into the Chinese language inside for ‘labor applications.’”
“The probably long-term influence would be the erosion of distinct ethnic identities in favor of a singular Chinese language nationwide identification, with Mandarin the only real language of schooling.”
James Leibold, La Trobe College
“The deeper influence could also be slower and extra bureaucratic: minority identification turns into one thing to be managed, curated and disciplined by the party-state. That’s how assimilation typically works, not with one grand announcement, however by colleges, textbooks, cadres, museums, slogans and varieties.”
“Actually, the paperwork is the place empires go to fake they’re being affordable. Distinction is tolerated rhetorically, however the political route is towards sameness.”
Bhuchung Tsering, Worldwide Marketing campaign for Tibet
“An important indication of this regulation could be the codification of the change within the bilingual schooling system within the Tibetan areas … Tibetan colleges have at varied instances been implementing Mannequin One, which implies Tibetan language is the medium of instruction. Now, by the imposition of Chinese language on the Tibetan individuals, and with Mandarin changing into the medium of instruction, China is altering the bilingual schooling system within the Tibetan space, and that can have an effect on the Tibetan individuals.”
Tsemoling Penpa, former political prisoner
“The intention behind China’s new Ethnic Unity Regulation… is the entire erasure of Tibet and Tibetan identification. It’s not solely about faith or tradition—it’s about erasing Tibet as a complete.”
Liu Chang, spokesperson, Chinese language Embassy in Washington
“China is a multi-ethnic nation the place varied ethnic teams are all equal and united in a harmonious relationship of mutual help. Strengthening the rule of regulation is conducive to raised defending the reputable rights and pursuits of all ethnic teams and enhancing ethnic unity. The Chinese language authorities attaches excessive significance to preserving ethnic minority cultures, and lawfully safeguards the suitable of all ethnic teams to make use of and develop their very own spoken and written languages. Our practices and achievements on this space have been widely known by the worldwide group.”
“Article 15 of the Regulation on Selling Ethnic Unity and Progress stipulates that the state respects and safeguards the suitable of ethnic minorities to be taught and use their spoken and written languages, promotes the standardization, normalization, and informatization of minority languages, and helps the preservation, compilation, analysis, and utilization of historic texts of ethnic minorities. Article 29 supplies that the state encourages mutual studying of languages amongst all ethnic teams. These provisions absolutely show the dedication to defending and selling the training and use of minority languages.”
“Article 63 is grounded in China’s nationwide circumstances, according to authorized rules, and according to worldwide follow. It’s a reputable, lawful, and mandatory provision. Safeguarding nationwide unity, territorial integrity, and social stability is a matter of sovereignty for all nations and a basic precept established underneath worldwide regulation. All nations have the suitable to undertake home laws to stop separatist actions, keep social cohesion, and uphold regular public order—that is widespread worldwide follow.”
“Article 63 targets illegal acts that undermine ethnic unity and incite separatism, with the basic goal of safeguarding ethnic concord, social stability, and nationwide safety. It’s according to the spirit of worldwide regulation and the governance practices of different nations, and doesn’t have an effect on regular people-to-people exchanges, tutorial discussions, or financial and commerce cooperation between China and different nations.”
“We urge related events to respect the essential info, cease making unwarranted criticisms and irresponsible remarks on China’s ethnic insurance policies and rule of regulation, and stop utilizing so-called ethnic points as a pretext to intervene in China’s inner affairs.”
Edited for Tibetan by Tawang and for RFA English by Charlie Dharapak.
