Central News Agency (Central News Agency Washington/Tokyo/Brussels, July 1) The "Law on the Promotion of National Unity and Progress of Ethnic Groups" in China takes effect today, raising concerns that it will place greater pressure on ethnic minorities within China and provide a legal basis for Beijing's transnational suppression operations. The United States, Japan, the European Union, and the United Nations have all issued condemnations. According to Nikkei Asia, the "Law on the Promotion of National Unity and Progress of Ethnic Groups" was passed by the National People's Congress in March. It includes a preamble and 65 articles, aiming to "forge a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation." This has triggered high alert among democratic countries and human rights advocates. Critics point out that the law not only legitimizes current policies that oppress the language, culture, and traditional rights of ethnic minorities but also allows Chinese authorities to enforce the law extraterritorially. Article 63 of the Law on Ethnic Unity states that any "foreign organizations and individuals" who "engage in acts that undermine national unity and progress or create ethnic division" against China will be held legally accountable. Another provision stipulates that all Chinese citizens have the "obligation to safeguard national unity and the unity of all ethnic groups nationwide"; it firmly opposes external forces interfering in the cause of national unity and progress under the "pretext of ethnicity, religion, human rights, etc." John Moolenaar, Chairman of the House Select Committee on China, issued a statement on June 29, stating that the Law on Ethnic Unity demonstrates that "the CCP's cruelty and paranoia are escalating." Moolenaar warned that Beijing intends to use this law to "continue to harass and intimidate dissidents living outside of China" while "legalizing" its oppression of ethnic minorities. Voice of America (VOA) reported that on June 26, U.S. Repub