this post was submitted on 13 Mar 2026
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China has approved a sweeping new law which claims to help promote "ethnic unity" - but critics say it will further erode the rights of minority groups.

On paper, it aims to promote integration among the 56 officially recognised ethnic groups, dominated by the Han Chinese, through education and housing. But critics say it cuts people off from their language and culture.

It mandates that all children should be taught Mandarin before kindergarten and up until the end of high school. Previously students could study most of the curriculum in their native language such as Tibetan, Uyghur or Mongolian.

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[–] valtia@lemmy.world 15 points 15 hours ago* (last edited 15 hours ago) (2 children)

In the US, all children are required to take English classes from kindergarten and up until the end of high school. There are no alternatives offered, if a student can't speak English, then they are at the very least offered ESL classes in addition to their regular English courses, but they still must take those courses and pass in order to get a diploma

[–] Kacarott@aussie.zone -1 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

While I don't actually think that mandating the official national language as a class in schools is at all a problem (or a new idea), your argument is blatant whataboutism. Something cannot be justified merely by comparing it to somewhere else (especially the US, I might add).

[–] cecinestpasunbot@lemmy.ml 1 points 12 hours ago (2 children)

It’s not whataboutism when there’s a clear bias in terms of what country the BBC is criticizing. Having a national language and requiring it to be taught in schools is incredibly common for many states including the UK. Why is China singled out so often for things almost every state does?

[–] SreudianFlip@sh.itjust.works 1 points 3 hours ago (1 children)

You do understand that the widely recognized genocide in North America is and has been criticized for this, right? The language deprivation has mostly wrapped up in political terms but a linguistic rebirth is still struggling financially and in many nations/tribes will never fully recover.

China is not being singled out, but called out based on historical familiarity with the process.

[–] cecinestpasunbot@lemmy.ml -1 points 2 hours ago

You’re right. There is no difference between banning native languages and ensuring children get taught the skills they need to succeed in life. Totally the same.

[–] Kacarott@aussie.zone 4 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

So call out the journalistic bias, or hypocritical behaviour of the BBC. But if the topic in general is brought up in conversation, just pointing to the US as some kind of justification, is definitely whataboutism. It sidesteps actual critical thinking by playing to familiarity: "well if this country does it, then it must be fine!", which is clearly a logical fallacy.

All countries actions should be criticized equally. No countries actions should be justified by being the same as another country.

[–] cecinestpasunbot@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

The person you initially replied to did not say anything about was or wasn’t justified. They just stated a simple fact. Their wording did not give any clear indication about how they actually felt. What does give you an indication of what they believe is the context under which they provided that fact.

To me, knowing the history of the BBC and other western media outlets, it seems clear that their comment is calling out the hypocrisy and bias of the BBC. I imagine it only appears to you as whataboutism because you do not share a perspective which encompasses the prior behavior of the BBC.

[–] Kacarott@aussie.zone 1 points 34 minutes ago

The reason I thought they were using it as justification, was because their comment was a reply to a comment that said something like "justify that tankies"

[–] hammertime@lemmy.org -5 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

Bringing all your alts out eh?

[–] valtia@lemmy.world 6 points 15 hours ago (1 children)
[–] hammertime@lemmy.org -2 points 15 hours ago

To this alt account? Yes.