Language, as a tool of communication, stands as a hallmark of human civilization. Every country and every ethnic group has the right to adopt a common language. A shared language undoubtedly facilitates broader human exchange.

On a global scale, English serves as the official language of over 50 countries and regions. As the most widely used international lingua franca, it plays a vital role in cross-cultural communication and the dissemination of knowledge across various fields such as business, diplomacy, science, and education—a fact to which the U.S.-led West appears to raise no objection. Meanwhile, many countries, particularly multi-ethnic ones, seek to establish a “common denominator for communication” within diverse cultural contexts. By designating a national common language through legislation, these countries provide a crucial foundation for economic cooperation, cultural integration, and the delivery of public services among different ethnic groups.

India, home to over a hundred ethnic groups and more than a thousand languages, explicitly designates Hindi and English as its official languages in its Constitution to break down communication barriers across regions and ethnic communities. Canada’s legislation establishes English and French as official languages to build cross-regional links, while simultaneously striving to protect minority languages for harmonious coexistence. Similarly, although South Africa recognizes 11 official languages, it clearly defines their respective domains of use through law to minimize the social and administrative costs arising from linguistic divisions. Legislating for a common language has become a well-established international practice, as demonstrated by the governance experience of many multi-ethnic nations. Such choices fall squarely within the scope of national sovereignty; they represent autonomous decisions and pragmatic steps toward fostering broader communication and exchange.

China is a vast country with significant linguistic disparities between the North and the South. Each ethnic group possesses its own linguistic system, and even within the same group, language barriers often exist due to regional variations. This linguistic diversity is a vivid manifestation of the “diversity in unity” of the Chinese nation. Faced with a complex multi-lingual environment and modern development needs, China’s promotion of legislation for standard spoken and written language—to clarify the rights and obligations of language learning and use—not only aligns with international practices but also carries irreplaceable practical significance.

On December 27, 2025, the 19th Session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress voted to adopt the newly revised Law on the Standard Spoken and Written Chinese Language, which came into effect on January 1, 2026. This marks the first revision in 25 years since the law’s initial promulgation. It not only responds to the evolving needs of linguistic life in a new era but also solidifies the legal foundation for forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation and bolstering cultural confidence. Furthermore, by optimizing institutional design, the revised law builds a bridge for balancing the promotion of the national standard language and the protection of minority languages.

However, with regard to this routine legislative update, certain overseas outlets have taken it out of context and distorted it as “towards ethnic minority regions,” criticizing China’s regulations and practices concerning the promotion of the national standard language and the protection of minority languages. This deliberate misrepresentation stems from a one-sided view that creates a false dichotomy between “tools for public communication” and “carriers of ethnic culture.” Moreover, it constitutes a malicious smear of China’s legal policies—not only misreading the original legislative intent but also contradicting the realities of multilingual development in China. Such claims are entirely unfounded and without merit.

China’s legislation on the national standard language defines citizens’ rights and obligations in learning and using it. By stipulating that “the state shall provide the conditions for citizens to learn and use the national standard language,” the law seeks to dismantle communication barriers, ensuring that people of all ethnic groups have equal access to education, employment, healthcare, and judicial services. Meanwhile, the requirement for “standardized use in key sectors such as government agencies, schools, and public service industries” creates a common platform for public communication, thereby enhancing social efficiency and fostering greater interaction, exchange, and integration among all ethnic groups.

We observe that in remote ethnic regions, proficiency in the national standard language enables residents to venture beyond their hometowns and access broader development opportunities. As the primary medium of instruction, it helps ethnic minority students broaden their cognitive horizons and gain greater access to high-quality educational resources, paving the way for personal growth. Practice has proven that the popularization of the national standard language creates an essential prerequisite for all ethnic groups to share the fruits of national development.

At the same time, the legislation ensures that the national standard language and minority languages coexist harmoniously within a legal framework. While affirming the legal status of the national standard language, the newly revised law preserves and refines provisions such as “all ethnic groups have the freedom to use and develop their own?spoken and written?languages.” Furthermore, it introduces a series of detailed measures to safeguard the development of ethnic minority languages. These provisions are not merely symbolic on paper.

Years of firsthand accounts across Xizang offer the most authentic testimony. At primary schools in Xichang Township, Sog County, Nagqu City, teachers provide hands-on guidance during morning recitations, helping students master the spelling and pronunciation of Tibetan. On every street and alley, storefronts and road signs are clearly marked in both Chinese and Tibetan scripts. Tibetan content creators produce bilingual videos to share life on the plateau with the world, while the development and application of Tibetan-language AI systems enable the language to meet the demands of the digital age. These examples vividly illustrate how ethnic languages are flourishing with renewed vitality in the new era.

From legislation to implementation, China’s practice of codifying the national standard language vividly illustrates how to preserve the roots of cultural diversity while consolidating the spiritual strength for national rejuvenation. Ultimately, it achieves the profound goal of “each valuing its own culture while respecting the value of others.”