China’s new ethnic unity law extends its legal reach overseas

Rather than promote ethnic harmony, activists say Law on the Promotion of ethnic unity and Progress could justify transnational repression.China says it has the right to pursue legal action against overseas individuals and organisations that undermine its ethnic unity as Beijing moves to expand its extraterritorial reach.Passed in March by the National People’s Congress, the “Law on the Promotion of ethnic unity and Progress” officially went into effect on Wednesday.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4California gets Bruce Lee Day in a first for US state’s Chinese Americanslist 2 of 4Survivors look to foreign aid after the earthquakes in Venezuelalist 3 of 4Oil prices fall to levels not seen since start of US-Israel war on Iranlist 4 of 4Belgium fans erupt after latest-ever goal seals place in last 16end of listThe legislation has already come under fire from rights watchdogs like the United Nations Special Rapporteurs on Minority Rights and Cultural Rights, who say the law has been used to justify forced assimilation in regions like Tibet and Xinjiang, rather than encourage ethnic harmony.Article 63 of the law has drawn further international attention for extending China’s legal reach overseas. It states that “organisations and individuals outside of mainland China who commit crimes aimed at [China] that undermine ethnic unity and progress or create ethnic division are to be pursued for legal responsibility in accordance with law”, according to a translation.Amnesty International said that Article 63 could be used to justify transnational repression of overseas citizens and activists, who are monitored by an alleged network of unofficial Chinese “police stations” as well as student or cultural groups.“Peaceful advocacy for minority rights in China by anyone, anywhere could be characterised as undermining ‘ethnic unity’,” Amnesty’s Deputy Regional Director Sarah Brooks said this week.Brooks said “unity” in this case did not mean “harmony between different communities” but conformity with Beijing’s political line.