China says it has a right to target people overseas with new ethnic unity law

China’s National People’s Congress has passed the *Ethnic Unity and Progress Promotion Law*, which officials say grants the state authority to hold overseas individuals accountable for ‘separatist’ activities targeting ethnic groups. Coverage highlights that the law explicitly permits actions against people outside China’s borders, raising alarms among diaspora communities and regional governments. State media, including *Xinhua* and *Global Times*, frame the law as necessary to counter ‘foreign interference,’ while human rights groups and Taiwan’s government warn of expanded legal risks for minorities abroad.

Reuters and *Focus Taiwan* emphasize the law’s potential impact on Taiwan, where ethnic minority advocacy groups may face heightened scrutiny. The *Global Times* dismisses criticism of Xinjiang labor practices as ‘absurd,’ linking the law to broader state narratives on national security. Watch for legal challenges from affected diaspora communities and reactions from governments hosting significant ethnic minority populations.

Coverage does not yet specify enforcement mechanisms, but protests and diplomatic statements suggest heightened tensions.