Sikyong Penpa Tsering, on behalf of the Tibetan people and Central Tibetan Administration, has issued an urgent appeal to governments, foreign ministries, parliamentarians, think tanks, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) worldwide through official correspondence and virtual distribution, calling attention to the People’s Republic of China’s newly enacted “Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress Law ».
Scheduled to take effect on 1 July 2026, the legislation, portrayed by Beijing as a measure to strengthen national unity and social harmony, instead provides a comprehensive legal framework for accelerating the assimilation of Tibetans and other ethnic minorities by weakening their distinct languages, cultures, religions, and identities in the name of “ethnic unity ».
In his appeal, Sikyong Penpa Tsering argues that the law transforms long-standing assimilation policies into legal obligations by mandating Mandarin-medium education, encouraging demographic engineering through mixed communities and intermarriage, expanding state surveillance, and extending China’s jurisdiction beyond its borders to target critics and members of the Tibetan diaspora. Describing the legislation as a grave threat to the future of the Tibetan people, Sikyong calls on governments and the international community to oppose the law, press for its repeal, support international investigations into its human rights implications, hold those responsible accountable, and renew efforts to advance a peaceful resolution of the Sino-Tibet conflict through meaningful dialogue.
APPEAL TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
Protect Tibetan Identity. Act Before It Is Too Late.
On 12 March 2026, the PRC adopted the Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress, set to take effect on 1 July 2026. While presented as promoting unity, Tibetans fear it will deepen policies of forced assimilation and threaten the survival of Tibetan identity.
1. Education & Language at Risk
• Mandarin designated as the primary language of instruction from early education onward
• Concerns over the declining role of the Tibetan language in daily life and education
• Fears of long-term cultural and linguistic erosion
2. Communities Under Pressure
• Policies promoting mixed-ethnic communities and population integration
• Concerns over displacement from ancestral lands
• Fears of weakening traditional Tibetan social and cultural structures
3. Increased Surveillance & State Control
• Expanded governance mechanisms and technological monitoring
• Concerns that cultural, religious, and linguistic expression may face greater scrutiny
4. Beyond China’s Borders
• Article 63 raises concerns over possible extraterritorial application
• UN experts have warned about risks of transnational repression affecting Tibetans abroad
WHY THIS MATTER
Tibetans fear these measures could
• Further weaken regional autonomy
• Disconnect younger generations from language, culture, and heritage
• Redefine Tibetan identity under a state-centered national framework
We respectfully urge governments and the international community to:
→ Oppose and reject policies that undermine cultural and religious rights
→ Support independent international review and UN engagement
→ Promote accountability through diplomatic and legal mechanisms
→ Encourage meaningful dialogue to address the Sino-Tibet conflict peacefully
→ Support efforts to preserve Tibetan language, culture, and identity
Protect language. Protect culture. Protect identity.
PARIS : SOUTIEN TOTAL DE NOTRE ASSOCIATION FRANCE-TIBET, BÖD GYALO PEU RANGZEN TIBET LIBRE
