měi guó美国hé和rén quán zǔ zhī人权组织dān xīn担心zhōng guó中国xīn fǎ新法yǐng xiǎng影响shǎo shù mín zú少数民族quán lì权利
China's National People's Congress recently passed a new "Ethnic Unity" law.
The law repeatedly emphasizes the "consciousness of the Chinese national community" and requires children and students to learn Mandarin.
The US House of Representatives' Special Committee on China criticized the law, believing it may make it easier for the government to control thoughts and speech.
The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights also expressed concern, believing the law may legally strengthen assimilation policies and restrict minority language education, religious freedom, and cultural freedom.
Human Rights Watch and the World Uyghur Congress also said the law might provide a legal basis for past suppression of minorities such as the Uyghurs and Tibetans.
The Dalai Lama recently called on young people to continue learning Tibetan and protect Tibetan culture.
Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council stated that the law's wording is unclear, its scope is broad, and even people and organizations outside China might be affected.