Tibetan exiles protest in New Delhi against China's Ethnic Unity and Progress Law

Hundreds of Tibetan exiles assembled in New Delhi on Thursday, 20 August, to protest China’s recently enacted Ethnic Unity and Progress Law. The gathering, organized by Tibetan community groups, aimed to draw international attention to the law’s provisions that the protesters say undermine cultural and religious freedoms for ethnic minorities in China.

The law, approved by Beijing’s National People's Congress in June, is portrayed by the Chinese government as a framework for national cohesion and economic development. Critics argue that its broad definitions of “ethnic unity” could be used to suppress distinct cultural identities and restrict religious practices, particularly for Tibetan Buddhists. The Delhi protest, which included speeches, chants, and a symbolic display of Tibetan flags, echoed similar demonstrations in other diaspora hubs and underscored ongoing tensions between the Chinese state and the Tibetan exile community.

While the protest did not result in immediate policy changes, it reinforced the exiles’ call for international scrutiny of China’s minority policies. The event also highlighted the continued role of the Indian capital as a focal point for Tibetan activism, as organizers plan further outreach to global human‑rights bodies in the coming weeks.