Brussels [Belgium] May 3 : In a resolution, the European Parliament strongly denounced China's newly enacted law on "ethnic unity and progress," warning that it would intensify the systematic suppression of ethnic identities and further worsen relations between the European Union and Beijing, which are already under strain due to persistent human rights concerns, according to a report by Phayul.
The Parliament criticised the legislation approved by China's highest legislative body, the National People's Congress, on March 12, 2026. Officially named the 'Law on the Promotion of Ethnic Unity and Progress,' the measure is widely viewed as a significant shift in China's governance of ethnic minorities, placing greater emphasis on ideological conformity and the broader use of Mandarin in education, public life, and media, Phayul reported.
The resolution stressed that safeguarding ethnic, cultural, religious, and linguistic identities is firmly rooted in international law, citing frameworks such as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. Lawmakers voiced concern that the new law marks a substantial departure from China's 1984 Regional Ethnic Autonomy Law, which had previously offered, though in limited form, a framework for regional autonomy. In contrast, the new legislation is said to formally institutionalize assimilation policies directed at communities including Tibetans, Uyghurs, Mongolians, Hui, and Manchus.
According to the resolution, individuals living outside China could also face prosecution if they are considered to be undermining the state's interpretation of "ethnic unity." The Parliament described this as a form of transnational repression and called on EU member states to suspend extradition agreements with China in order to safeguard individuals who may be at risk, as cited by the Phayul report.
The resolution further urged the European Union to take concrete action in response. It called for the activation of the bloc's Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime against Chinese officials and entities involved in drafting and enforcing the law. It also underscored that human rights, democracy, and the rule of law must remain central pillars of EU-China relations, Phayul reported.
The Parliament also reiterated its longstanding concerns regarding Beijing's interference in Tibetan religious matters, particularly in relation to the recognition of spiritual leaders. It "strongly rejects" Chinese authorities' involvement in the succession process of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, stressing that this is an exclusively religious matter that must follow Tibetan Buddhist traditions. The resolution additionally called for the immediate release of several political prisoners, including Tibetan religious leader Choktrul Dorje Ten Rinpoche, activist Palden Yeshi, and the 11th Panchen Lama. It also urged the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to publish an updated report examining the implications of the 2026 law, Phayul reported.
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