China’s “Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress” comes into force, even as it faces criticism from overseas. The law is designed to promote cohesion among the country’s ethnic groups and build a “shared” national identity. According to reporting from both outlets, the measures include steps to strengthen the status of Mandarin as the official language. The articles describe the law’s central aim as encouraging ethnic unity and progress across regions and communities within China. While the reporting notes that criticism has come from outside China, it focuses primarily on the law’s stated objectives and the kinds of provisions it includes, rather than detailing the specific objections. The law’s entry into effect means its requirements and policy direction now apply under Chinese governance, including those intended to reinforce national identity and language policy.