Washington, D.C. — In a letter addressed to the Chinese ambassador to the United States, U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham and Sheldon Whitehouse expressed their deep concern regarding the “Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress” enacted by the PRC, warning that this law aims to eliminate the distinct identities, religious freedoms, and fundamental rights of Tibetans, Uyghurs, and other ethnic minorities. They further stated that this new law violates the Chinese Constitution and international law, and that it must be repealed.
Senators Lindsey O. Graham (Republican) and Sheldon Whitehouse (Democrat) sent a bipartisan letter to Xie Feng, China’s ambassador to the United States, on June 25, 2026. In the letter, they expressed deep concern regarding the “Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress” enacted by the People’s Republic of China, warning that this law aims to eliminate the distinct identities, religious freedoms, and fundamental rights of Tibetans, Uyghurs, and other ethnic minorities. They further stated that this new law violates the Chinese Constitution and international law, and that it must be repealed.
The senators stated that they joined the European Parliament in condemning the so-called "Ethic Unity law," which is set to take effect on July 1, 2026 and called on the Chinese government to repeal it or revise it thoroughly. They added that they would closely monitor the Chinese Communist Party’s implementation of the law, particularly its impact on Tibetans, Uyghurs and others.
The senators wrote in the letter to China’s ambassador to the United States,"We write with grave concern regarding the troubling implications of the People's Republic of China's new Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress which will enter into force on July 1."
"As bipartisan and elected representatives of the U.S. Senate, we join the European Union Parliament in condemning the Law's passage and anticipated implementation. We are closely watching actions the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) takes under the Law and would urge your government to rescind or significantly revise the Law given its ramifications on those beyond the borders of the People's Republic of China and on the protection of distinct identities and human rights of Tibetans, Uyghurs, and other nationalities," they added.
"We are extremely concerned about Article 63 of the Law, which states "Organizations and individuals outside the [mainland] territory of the People's Republic of China that commit acts aimed at the People's Republic of China that undermine ethnic unity and progress or create ethnic division are to be pursued for legal responsibility in accordance with law." Please be aware that any attempts to surveil, intimidate, or pressure individuals residing in the United States, under Article 63 or any provision of that Law or any other, constitute an unacceptable violation of U.S. sovereignty," they further said.
The US senators said, "We are deeply troubled by the codification of the CCP's longstanding practices to extinguish religious freedom, including restrictions on worship, forced ideological instruction, and pressure on communities to abandon or dilute their faith traditions. These practices affect Tibetan Buddhists, Muslims, Christians, and many others - under the guise of combatting extremism and/or preventing separatism."
"We are also alarmed by the law's implications for children's rights, particularly in the state-run boarding schools affecting more than one million Tibetan children who have been separated from their families, language, and heritage. Your implementation of the Law will be evaluated for compliance with standards for the protection of children," they said.
"Let us be clear: We will not hold back from speaking out when laws or practices violate fundamental rights, including the rights of individuals living on U.S. soil, children's rights, and religious freedoms. The Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress is detrimental to and attempts to eliminate the unique identities of Tibetans, Uyghurs, and others. Furthermore, this Law appears to be at odds with China's own constitution, 1984 Regional Ethnic Autonomy Law, and international commitments," said Senators Lindsey Graham and Sheldon Whitehouse.
