India, July 19 -- The PRC Constitution itself formally recognizes equality among ethnic groups and the protection of their linguistic and cultural distinctiveness, yet this new law subordinates minorities to a 'unified' identity.

On July 1, 2026, the Law on Ethnic Unity and Progress came into effect in the People's Republic of China, mandating the use of Mandarin as the primary language of instruction in all schools at every level. President Xi Jinping and the Communist Party he leads describe this law as a tool to strengthen social cohesion and economic development, but the reality-as is often the case in Beijing-is quite different from the propaganda disseminated by the state. The Constitution of the People's Republic of China itself f...