BEIJING — China’s government is asserting its right to hold people living outside the country legally responsible under a sweeping new ethnic unity law, with a top official defending the measure as both lawful and in keeping with global standards.
The law, which was passed in March and takes effect July 1, was designed to forge a unified national identity among China’s 55 ethnic minority groups — including Tibetans and Uyghurs, communities that have historically pushed back against Chinese authority and, at times, staged protests that turned violent.
A key clause in the legislation states that individuals and organizations operating outside the People’s Republic of China can be held legally accountable if they are found to be undermining “ethnic unity and progress or inciting ethnic separatism.”
The provision has triggered significant concern, especially in Taiwan — which Beijing considers part of China — over fears it could give the Chinese government yet another legal tool to go after Taiwanese citizens it labels as separatists. Human rights organizations have also raised alarms, pointing to China’s past use of Interpol “red notices” as a means of pressuring foreign governments to detain individuals abroad for what critics describe as political offenses.
At a press conference in Beijing focused on the new law, Vice Justice Minister Hu Weilie dismissed what he called distortions of the overseas clause by certain unnamed Western media outlets.
“This provision is based on China’s national conditions, conforms to legal principles, and is consistent with international practice. It is a legitimate, lawful, necessary, and feasible legal provision,” Hu stated.
He further argued that governments around the world routinely use domestic legislation to guard against separatist activity and maintain social order, saying, “Countries around the world all have the right to prevent separatist and destructive activities, and to maintain social solidarity and normal order, through domestic legislation.”
Hu described the overseas provision as targeting illegal conduct through rule-of-law methods, meant to “guard against various unlawful acts involving ethnic affairs from outside the country.”
He added that enforcing the clause would protect China’s sovereignty, national security, and development interests, while also safeguarding the rights of people across all of China’s ethnic groups.
“It will not affect normal people-to-people exchanges between China and other countries, academic discussions, economic and trade cooperation, or other activities,” Hu said.
