China on Friday rejected criticism from the United States and the European Union over its newly implemented Ethnic Unity Law, calling the allegations a “malicious smear” and accusing Western governments of interfering in its internal affairs. The law, which took effect on July 2, was passed in March as part of President Xi Jinping’s broader campaign to strengthen a unified Chinese national identity across the country’s 55 officially recognised ethnic minority groups. These include Tibetans, Uyghurs, Mongolians, Hui and dozens of smaller communities. One of the most closely watched provisions allows Chinese authorities to pursue legal action against individuals and organisations outside China if they are deemed to have undermined “ethnic unity” or promoted separatism.

Full report : China Defends Widely Criticized ‘Ethnic Unity’ Law.