On new Chinese law on ‘ethnic unity and progress’ and the intensified suppression of ethnic identities

B100216/2026

European Parliament resolution on new Chinese law on ‘ethnic unity and progress’ and the intensified suppression of ethnic identities

(2026/2703(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to Rules 150(5) and 136(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

whereas on 12 March 2026 the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) adopted the Law on the Promotion of Ethnic Unity and Progress, which mandates ideological conformity centred on loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), leading to intensified, institutionalized repression and assimilation against ethnic minority identities, including Tibetans, Hui, Uyghurs, Manchus and Mongolians;

whereas this law legalises the intensification and the institutionalisation of the repression against Tibetan identity, thereby achieving Xi Jinping’s priority to fully sinicize the Tibetan culture;

whereas the law mandates the integration of state ideology across all aspects of social life, thereby putting religious practices increasingly subject to political reinterpretation and restrictions;

whereas vague and overbroad provisions prohibiting acts deemed to “damage ethnic unity” risk criminalising peaceful expression, dissent, and advocacy for minority rights;

whereas the law’s extraterritorial reach allows for the prosecution of individuals abroad deemed to undermine “ethnic unity”;

whereas the degradation of the human rights situation in China has put a strain on the relation with the EU and decisively contributed to making the rivalry dimension of the relation more prominent;

Strongly condemns the repressive assimilation policies throughout the PRC and consequent violations of universal human rights, including in Tibet, Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia;

Expresses grave concern over the ‘Ethnic Unity and Progress’ law, a legislative framework designed to legitimise repression, forced assimilation, and violations of freedom of expression, religion, and minority rights; urges the PRC to repeal this law and immediately cease all discrimination against religious and ethnic minorities;

Demands that the EU impose sanctions on officials and entities responsible for human rights violations in Tibet; stresses that since the introduction of sanctions for the violations in Xinjiang in 2021, the overall human rights situation has not improved and recalls Parliament’s requests for additional measures;

Urges all EU Member States to suspend extradition treaties with the PRC to avoid exposing persecuted individuals residing in the EU to risks of transnational repression under this law;

Strongly condemns the continued persecution of Tibetan religious and cultural leaders, including the cultural and linguistic assimilation of children in state-run residential schools; firmly opposes any attempt by the PRC to interfere in the selection of Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leaders, including the Dalai Lama;

Considers that the introduction and enforcement of this law will lead to severe consequences for EU-China relations;

Urges the Commission, EEAS and the Member States to prominently address the worsening Human Rights situation in China, and all notable individual cases such as Sakharov laureate Ilham Tohti, at all levels with Chinese representatives, as well as at the UN Human Rights Council;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the HR/VP, the Member States, the Chinese authorities and government and the United Nations.