Sittings · Document
On new Chinese law on ‘ethnic unity and progress’ and the intensified suppression of ethnic identities
on behalf of the Renew Group · Rapporteur: Dainius Žalimas, Oihane Agirregoitia Martínez, MarieAgnes StrackZimmermann, Svenja Hahn, Veronika Cifrová Ostrihoňová, Martin Hojsík, JanChristoph Oetjen, Ľubica Karvašová, Malik Azmani, Lucia Yar, Nathalie Loiseau, Dan Barna, Helmut Brandstätter, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Petras Auštrevičius, Hilde Vautmans, Anna Stürgkh, Engin Eroglu, Karin Karlsbro
Parliament condemns China's new Law on the Promotion of Ethnic Unity and Progress, which it says promotes assimilation and restricts cultural, religious and linguistic freedoms. It urges China to repeal the law and calls on the Council to use the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime against responsible officials.¶¶¶ It urges EU member states to suspend extradition treaties with China, condemns persecution of Tibetan leaders, calls for release of political prisoners, and asks the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to report on the law.¶¶¶
Key points
- Strongly condemns repressive assimilation policies throughout China and their violations of universal human rights, including in Tibet, Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia.¶
- Expresses grave concern over the Law on the Promotion of Ethnic Unity and Progress, urges China to repeal it and cease all discrimination against religious and ethnic minorities.¶
- Calls on the Council to use the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime against officials and entities responsible for drafting and implementing the law.¶
- Urges all EU member states to suspend extradition treaties with China to protect persecuted individuals residing in the EU from transnational repression.¶
- Condemns persecution of Tibetan religious and cultural leaders, including assimilation of children in state-run residential schools, and opposes interference in selection of Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leaders.¶
- Calls for immediate release of all political prisoners, including Ilham Tohti, the 11th Panchen Lama, and Mongolian activist Hada.¶
- Calls for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to issue an updated situational report addressing the 2026 law.¶
- Considers that the law leads to oppression of minorities and undermining of human rights, with severe consequences for EU-China relations.¶
Who is affected
- Ethnic minorities in China, including Tibetans, Hui, Uyghurs, Manchus and Mongolians, face intensified repression and assimilation.¶
- Individuals abroad deemed to undermine 'ethnic unity' may be prosecuted under the law, posing risks to those in the EU.¶¶
- Tibetan Buddhist religious practices and leadership selection are subject to increased regulation and interference.¶¶
Figures and deadlines
- 12 March 2026: date the law was adopted by China's National People's Congress.¶
Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text and ¶ links to the paragraph it rests on. Check the text itself before relying on it.