Taiwan President Lai Ching-te on Tuesday called on the international community to oppose what he described as China’s growing authoritarian influence and the implementation of its Ethnic Unity Law. Addressing the opening session of the 10th annual Ketagalan Forum in Taipei, Lai said the legislation raised concerns over human rights, political censorship and what he termed transnational repression.

Lai said the law, which came into effect in China on July 1, posed challenges to Taiwan’s security and democratic values. He alleged that the legislation was part of broader efforts by Beijing to expand political control and suppress ethnic and religious identities. The Taiwanese leader reiterated that Taipei would continue supporting democratic principles while working to maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

During the forum, Lai said Taiwan remained committed to countering authoritarian expansion through international cooperation. In a post on social media, he called for global resistance against what he referred to as China’s “red terror” and urged democratic partners to strengthen measures against policies that threaten human rights and freedoms.

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The Ketagalan Forum 2026 Indo-Pacific Security Dialogue is jointly organised by Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research. The annual event focuses on regional security challenges, democratic resilience and cooperation among countries in the Indo-Pacific. Lai used the platform to highlight Taiwan’s position on issues related to sovereignty, human rights and international security.

The controversy surrounding China’s Ethnic Unity Law has also drawn criticism from several Uyghur civil society organisations. More than 50 groups recently called for international action against the legislation, describing it as a tool for forced assimilation rather than a standard administrative measure. They alleged that the law could weaken the cultural, linguistic and religious identities of Uyghurs, Tibetans, Mongolians and other minority communities.

The organisations have urged United Nations human rights bodies and international mechanisms to monitor the implementation of the law, including concerns over its possible impact beyond mainland China. They have called for greater scrutiny of provisions they claim could affect individuals and organisations outside China. Beijing has maintained that its ethnic policies are aimed at promoting national unity and social stability, while critics continue to raise concerns over cultural rights and political freedoms.

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