US Senators Condemn China's New Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress

Dharamshala: A bipartisan group of senior US senators has expressed strong concern over China’s newly enacted Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress. They warned that the legislation threatens the cultural identity, religious freedom, and fundamental rights of Tibetans, Uyghurs, and other ethnic groups. This is according to the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA). According to the CTA, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse addressed a joint letter to Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng. In the letter, they urged Beijing to rescind or substantially revise the law. They also stressed that this should happen before it comes into force on July 1. The senators said they stand with the European Parliament in condemning the legislation. Moreover, they pledged to closely monitor its implementation and impact on ethnically marginalized groups within and outside China. The CTA reported that the senators raised particular concern over Article 63 of the law. This article claims legal jurisdiction over organisations and individuals outside China accused of undermining “ethnic unity and progress”. They warned that any attempt by Chinese authorities to surveil, intimidate, or pressure individuals residing in the United States under this provision would amount to an unacceptable violation of US sovereignty. According to the CTA, the lawmakers also criticised China’s longstanding restrictions on religious freedom. They said policies introduced under the pretext of combating extremism and separatism have targeted Tibetan Buddhists, Muslims, Christians, and other faith communities. In addition, these policies include restrictions on worship, forced ideological education, and pressure to abandon traditional beliefs. The CTA further reported that the senators expressed deep concern over China’s state-run boarding school system in Tibet. They said this system has separated more than one million Tibetan children from their families, language, and cultural heritage. Furthermore, they noted that implementation of the new law would be assessed against international standards protecting children’s rights. In the letter, the senators stated that the law seeks to erode the distinct identities of Tibetans, Uyghurs, and other ethnic groups. They added that it appears inconsistent with China’s Constitution, the 1984 Regional Ethnic Autonomy Law, and the country’s international human rights commitments. According to the CTA, they also pledged to continue speaking out against violations of religious freedom and children’s rights. Furthermore, they committed to pursuing legislative measures to hold the Chinese government accountable for actions taken under the new law. (ANI) Also Read: Beijing’s all-expense forum for Taiwanese youth sparks influence campaign fears