Very long arm: Beijing defends unity law that lets it target ‘separatism’ outside China

BEIJING, June 24 — China has a right to target people outside of its borders who contravene its ‌new law on ethnic unity, a senior official ​said on Wednesday, adding that this was in line with international practice, and was legal and necessary.

China passed the law ‌in March to create a “shared” national identity among the country’s 55 ethnic ​minority groups, which include Tibetans and Uyghurs, some of whom chafe under Chinese rule and have over the years often staged protests, some of them violent.

The new law, which ​goes into effect on July 1, includes a clause saying people and groups beyond the borders of the People’s Republic of China can be held legally accountable for undermining “ethnic unity and progress or inciting ethnic separatism”.

That has sparked alarm in Chinese-claimed Taiwan in particular that it could ‌give Beijing another legal basis to go after Taiwanese it views as ⁠separatists.

Rights groups have also complained that ⁠China has tried to used Interpol “red notices” to ⁠try and get foreign governments ⁠to arrest people ⁠abroad it wants for political offences at home.

Speaking at a news conference in Beijing about the law, Vice Justice Minister Hu Weilie said certain Western ⁠media, which he did not name, had “distorted and misinterpreted” the overseas provision.

“This provision is based on China’s national conditions, conforms to legal principles, and is consistent with international practice. It is a legitimate, lawful, necessary, and feasible legal provision,” he said.

“Countries around the world all have the right to ⁠prevent separatist and destructive activities, and to maintain social solidarity and normal order, through domestic legislation.” The overseas provision targets illegal acts and uses ⁠rule-of-law methods to “guard against various unlawful acts involving ethnic affairs from outside the country”, he ⁠added.

Enforcing ⁠the law’s overseas provision will effectively safeguard China’s sovereignty, security, and development interests, as well ​as the lawful rights and interests of ​people of all ethnic groups, Hu added.

“It ‌will not affect normal people-to-people exchanges between China ​and other countries, academic ​discussions, economic and trade cooperation, or other activities.” — Reuters