'Unity' not for China's ethnics

WARNING: NEW LAW CAN 'MARGINALISE MINORITIES'

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China approved what it called an "ethnic unity" law yesterday, which rights advocates warn could further marginalise minority groups, such as the Uyghurs.

The law, passed by the National People's Congress, formalises policies to promote Mandarin as the "national common language" in education, official business and public places.

China's government has been accused for decades of pursuing policies to force assimilation across the vast country into the Han majority.

Social cohesion is a key focus of the new "ethnic unity" law, which criminalises engaging in "violent terrorist activities, ethnic separatist activities, or religious extremist activities".