China implemented a sweeping ethnic unity law on July 1 that designates Mandarin Chinese as the primary language for schools and government agencies across the country. The regulations also prohibit activities deemed to incite division among China’s 56 ethnic groups and require institutions to promote patriotism and national unity. Chinese officials state the policies expand educational opportunities and ensure equal access for ethnic minorities.
The law has drawn criticism from international observers and rights groups, who characterize it as furthering cultural assimilation of Tibetans and other minority populations. Language policy changes have been introduced in other minority regions, including expanded Mandarin instruction in Uyghur and Mongolian-speaking areas. Some Tibetan activists view the measure as extending Beijing’s control over ethnic minorities. The Chinese government has dismissed foreign criticism as ideological bias.
Despite the policy environment, some Tibetans have found ways to maintain cultural practices. A 73-year-old retired nurse in Lhasa attends calligraphy classes to learn written Tibetan, a skill she never acquired during her working years. A 19-year-old student expressed the importance of preserving language and culture for future generations, though she noted that students speaking different Tibetan dialects use Mandarin at school. Buddhists continue to visit religious sites and practice their faith, though prominent temples display no public references to the current Dalai Lama, Tibet’s spiritual leader who has lived in exile since 1959.
Beijing and the Dalai Lama’s office remain in dispute over succession procedures for Tibet’s spiritual leadership. The Dalai Lama has stated his successor could be born outside China and that only his office can recognize his reincarnation, while Beijing asserts that selection must comply with Chinese law and receive government approval. A historian specializing in modern China noted that the recent law codifies existing trends rather than introducing new restrictions on education and language rights.
Visual reminders of Chinese authority pervade Tibetan cities, including national flags, billboards promoting ethnic unity, and portraits of President Xi Jinping in public spaces. Some cultural preservation efforts focus on elements considered politically less sensitive, such as traditional crafts and tourism-oriented activities. A Communist Party official overseeing a regional museum stated the new law carries only benefits with no negative effects.
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