Devolution Of Power, Resources: How China Has Surmounted Ethnic Acrimony, Development Imbalance  

The State ensures that the 55 ethnic minority groups manage their internal affairs.

China’s 2010 census put the population at 1.34 billion people, the highest in the world. With a land size of 9,572,900 square kilometres, China is the world’s third largest nation after Russia and Canada. The country has 56 different ethnic groups, but the Han alone make up a whopping 91.6 per cent of the population. The 55 ethnic minority groups numbered 112 million in 2010, accounting for 8.4 per cent of the total population.

Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, the authorities have consistently developed and implemented policies aimed at ensuring harmony and balanced development amongst the country’s ethnic groups and provinces. In order to give ethnic minorities say in the management of their affairs, the first autonomous administrative areas were created over 60 years ago.

Regardless of population size, length of history and level of development, all Chinese ethnic groups are considered equal. In the National People’s Congress, NPC, every ethnic minority has appropriate numbers of deputies, and ethnic minorities with exceptionally small populations have at least a deputy each. The proportion of ethnic minority deputies to the total number is higher than their actual national population. Also, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, CPPCC, has members from all ethnic groups.   

Ethnic autonomous areas independently regulate their economies, are guaranteed economic development and receive State assistance. The law bestows upon...