Brussels, May 3 (ANI) — The European Parliament has adopted a resolution sharply criticizing China’s recently enacted “Law on the Promotion of Ethnic Unity and Progress,” warning the measure will intensify state efforts to suppress distinct ethnic identities and worsen already strained EU–China relations over human rights concerns.
MEPs said the law, approved by the National People’s Congress on March 12, 2026, represents a significant change in how Beijing governs ethnic minorities. They argued it prioritizes ideological conformity and expands the mandatory use of Mandarin in schools, public institutions and media, undermining protections for minority languages, cultures and religious practices.
The resolution recalls international legal guarantees for ethnic, cultural, religious and linguistic rights, including UN instruments that protect persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities. Parliamentarians say the new statute departs from the principles of the 1984 Regional Ethnic Autonomy Law and effectively codifies assimilationist policies affecting Tibetans, Uyghurs, Mongolians, Hui and Manchus.
Lawmakers also expressed alarm that the text appears to permit the prosecution of people outside China who are deemed to challenge the state’s definition of “ethnic unity,” a dynamic they described as transnational repression. In response, they urged EU member states to consider suspending extradition treaties with China to safeguard individuals at risk of politically motivated prosecution.
The resolution calls on the European Union to take concrete measures, including the use of the bloc’s Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime against Chinese officials and entities involved in drafting or enforcing the law. It stresses that respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law must remain central pillars of EU policy towards China.
In a separate but related set of concerns, MEPs reiterated opposition to Beijing’s interference in Tibetan religious affairs, rejecting any Chinese role in determining the succession of the Dalai Lama. The Parliament demanded the immediate release of political prisoners it named, including Choktrul Dorje Ten Rinpoche, activist Palden Yeshi and the 11th Panchen Lama.
Finally, the resolution urged the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to publish an updated assessment of the law’s human rights implications. The European Parliament’s action reflects mounting international scrutiny of China’s policies toward its ethnic minorities and a push for stronger, coordinated responses from Western governments.
