China Passes ‘Ethnic Unity’ Law Mandating Mandarin In Schools, Sparking Rights Concerns

China’s National People’s Congress has approved new legislation aimed at promoting “ethnic unity,” a move that codifies the prioritization of Mandarin Chinese in education and public affairs while criminalizing actions deemed to incite ethnic separatism. The law formalizes policies designating Mandarin as the “national common language” for official use. Under the new regulations, educational institutions are required to conduct instruction in Mandarin, and students must achieve a “basic grasp” of the language upon completing compulsory education. While the law does not explicitly ban minority languages, its implementation is expected to significantly impact regions with large non-Han populations, including Tibet, Inner…