China’s ethnic unity law escalates transnational repression

China’s ethnic unity law escalates transnational repression

2026-07-15

China’s new ethnic unity law took effect on July 1, sparking concerns that Beijing could use the legislation to extend its reach overseas. The law could be used to target people accused by China of promoting “ethnic division” anywhere, adding to concerns over China’s growing use of legal tools to escalate transnational repression.

- Putting it simply, this law is a cross-border repression law.

China’s “ethnic unity” law took effect on July 1. The preamble alone is over 800 words long.

Sang Pu
Taiwan Hong Kong Association director-general
This is the first law with a preamble enacted by the Chinese Communist Party since the 18th National Congress in 2012. A preamble reflects the intentions of the ruler or authoritarian leader. Few laws have preambles. The Constitution is one example, so I view this law as having a quasi-constitutional status.

Article 21 stipulates that Taiwanese are Chinese nationals, and those deemed to be engaging in “ethnic separatism” could face legal liability. The law recognizes no borders, effectively extending China’s long-arm jurisdiction around the world.

Chen Yu-chieh
Academia Sinica associate researcher
I think its purpose is to make people around the world self-censor and intimidate them. China doesn’t need to arrest lots of people. It just sends the message that it has the authority to arrest you.

Beyond measures wrapped in the guise of the law, China has long used violence and psychological intimidation toward those it views as being dissidents.

A Hong Kong citizen living in Taiwan, Tong Wai-hung, joined the 2019 anti-extradition bill protests and called for a boycott of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council elections last year. In November that year, his Taipei boxing gym was vandalized by suspects from Hong Kong.

Liang Wen-chieh (January 2026)
Mainland Affairs Council Deputy Minister
The purpose was clearly to warn and intimidate him as well as other Hong Kongers in Taiwan.

In 2019, Hong Kong singer Denise Ho was attending a pro-Hong Kong rally in Taiwan when she was attacked with paint. The late Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Lam Wing-kee was also assaulted after moving to Taiwan in 2020. Just six days after the ethnic unity law took effect, Japanese journalist and friend of Taiwan Akio Yaita was beaten by a suspect from Hong Kong.

Akio Yaita (July 6)
Journalist
Using violence to respond because you disagree with my views or statements should absolutely not be allowed.

Karen Kuo (July 7)
Presidential Office spokesperson
This is the first case of cross-border repression and violent intimidation occurring in Taiwan after China implemented the ethnic unity law. Of course, we strongly condemn this act.

China is using the law as pretext for transnational repression, highlighting its domineering and unreasonable behavior with its brazen actions.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#ethnicunitylaw #ethnicunity #China #CCP #HongKong #repression #violence #intimidation

"民族團結促進法"上路逾中國發動多起跨國鎮壓

2026-07-15

中國"民族團結進步促進法"，今年7月1日正式上路，一旦被認定製造民族分裂，將被中國追究法律責任，而這部法條，讓中國的長臂管轄範圍再度伸向全球，其實過去中國面對異議人士，以暴力手段制裁的案例層出不窮，如今以法律之名行跨國鎮壓之實，手段可說是變本加厲。

- 這部法用一個白話文來講，就叫跨境鎮壓法

中國"團結民族促進法"，7月1日正式上路，翻開法條，光是序言就有800多字

[[台灣香港協會理事長桑普]]
“它應該是中共十八大，2012年以來，第一部法律有序言的，序言就代表說，那個皇帝或專政者最重要的企圖，有序言的法律不多，憲法就是一部，所以我視這部法律為，準憲法的地位”

第21條更將台灣人，納入中國人範疇，一旦民族分裂，就要追究法律責任，管轄範圍無遠弗界，直接將紅色長臂伸向全世界。

[[中研院法律研究所副研究員陳玉潔]]
“我覺得他的目的其實就是，在全球的範圍內，製造一個自我審查跟寒蟬效應，因為他不需要抓很多的人，他只要釋放出訊息說，我有權抓你”

除了包裝在文明法律外衣下的手段，其實中國長年來，處理異議人士的手段，早已充斥暴力攻擊與心理脅迫。

在台香港籍的湯偉雄，2019年曾參與反送中運動，2025年更在網路對香港立法會選舉發動杯葛，沒想到同年11月，他位在台北的拳館，被不明人士潑漆，嫌犯來自同鄉。

[[陸委會副主委梁文傑 (2026.01)]]
“目的明顯是在警告湯偉雄，讓他心生恐懼，也在恐嚇其他在台港人”

2019年，香港歌手何韻詩來台參加挺香港遊行，受訪到一半遭人潑漆。已故香港民主人士林榮基，2020年移民台灣之初，也曾受到暴力攻擊。民族團結促進法上路後短短6天，日籍友台媒體人矢板明夫，也被港籍嫌犯揮拳痛毆。

[[印太戰略智庫執行長矢板明夫 (07.06)]]
“如果是因為我的主張，我的言論，你不同意的話，用這種暴力的手段，我覺得是絕對不應該被允許的”

[[總統府發言人郭雅慧 (07.07)]]
“這起案件是中國在實施"民族團結進步促進法"後，第一起在台灣所發生，有像這樣子跨境鎮壓的，暴力脅迫的案件，當然這個我們要表達嚴厲譴責”

中國以法律之名，行跨國鎮壓之實，從過去到現在，在在凸顯中國的蠻橫無理。

更多新聞內容，請鎖定：
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