Why China’s ethnic unity law marks shift in policy towards assimilation

China’s new law on ethnic unity signals a shift in Beijing’s focus from handling specific ethnic matters to assimilation, according to a party ethnologist. The Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress, which took effect this month, provides a framework that analysts say is designed to counter Western ideological influence and provide a statutory mandate for assimilating minority groups. However, it has triggered concerns from the United States and the European Union about forced assimilation..