Brussels, 16 July 2026: During the final meeting of the Belgian Federal Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee before the summer recess, held on 15 July 2026, parliamentarians have called on the federal government to take a strong stance against China’s new Ethnic Unity Law, warning that it could further institutionalise the assimilation of ethnic groups and extend repression beyond China’s borders.

During a parliamentary debate, MP Els Van Hoof, Chair, Foreign Affairs Committee, MPs Katrijn van Riet, Britt Huybrechts and Annick Lambrecht questioned Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot about the law, which entered into force on 1 July 2026.

The MPs expressed serious concern that the legislation provides a legal framework for the continued erosion of the cultural, linguistic and religious rights of Tibetans, Uyghurs, Mongols and other groups. They also highlighted the law’s unprecedented extraterritorial provisions, which could be used to target activists, academics, NGOs, elected representatives and members of diaspora communities living outside China.

The parliamentarians asked whether Belgium had fully assessed the implications of the law, coordinated with European Union, and intended to raise the issue with Beijing bilaterally and at international forums, including the UN Human Rights Council. They further sought assurances that Belgium is prepared to protect individuals on its territory from intimidation and other forms of transnational repression.

In his response, Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot acknowledged that the law’s extraterritorial dimension warrants particular attention. He stated that Belgium is closely monitoring developments and that his Ministry and their mission in China are analysing the legislation, including the risks it poses to freedom of expression, academic freedom and other fundamental rights beyond China’s borders.

The Minister confirmed that Belgium continues to raise concerns regarding the human rights situation of different groups in China through bilateral diplomatic contacts, within the European Union and in multilateral foras. He also stressed that reports of transnational repression are taken seriously and that the protection of individuals in Belgium falls within the responsibility of the country’s security and intelligence services.

In their concluding remarks, MPs stressed that Belgium and the European Union must respond with clarity and determination. They warned against allowing economic interests to overshadow human rights concerns and called for sustained international attention to the situation of Tibetans, Uyghurs, Mongols and other communities affected by China’s assimilationist policies.

The parliamentary debate demonstrates growing recognition in Belgium that China’s Ethnic Unity Law is not merely a domestic legislative measure but one with potentially far-reaching implications for human rights, cultural freedom and the safety of diaspora communities abroad. Continued scrutiny and coordinated action at both the Belgian and European levels will be essential to address these concerns and uphold international human rights standards.

– Report filed by Office of Tibet, Brussels