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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.

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