Ryan Davis
Model UN-China
China’s Indigenous People and Ethnic Minorities
According to Dictionary.com, the word indigenous means “originating in and
characteristic of a particular region or country; native” (Dictionary.com).
As of the 2000 census, China had a population of nearly 1.3 billion, making it the
most populated country in the world. China’s geographical landscape spans far and wide;
“it encompasses a huge variety of climates and landscapes, as its borders extend all the
way through Central, South and South-East Asia, from the shores of the Pacific Ocean to
the tropical jungles of Southeast Asia and the highest mountains of the globe with the
Himalayas.” (Refworld). Because of this, a variety of populations, cultures, and ethnic
groups live in China.
On September 13, 2007, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples was adopted by the General Assembly. 144 votes were in favor,
including China’s vote , 4 votes were against, including the United States’ vote, and 11
countries abstained. As worded by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner
for Human Rights (OHCHR), “The Declaration establishes a universal framework of
minimum standards for the survival, dignity, well-being and rights of the world's
indigenous peoples… [and] rights to education, health, employment, language”
(OHCHR). Also, the declaration prohibits discrimination of indigenous peoples as well as
promoting “harmonious and cooperative relations” (OHCHR).
Of China’s nearly 1.3 billion people in the 2000 census, 105,226,114 people or
8.7% of China’s population are categorized as being in minority ethnic groups. In the
2010 census, 113,792,211 or 8.49% of the population were considered ethnic minority.
Fifty-five ethnic groups are recognized by the Chinese government, the final result of
China’s “Ethnic Minority Identification Project”. It is unclear which group could be
considered indigenous, but it is known they reside in small groups in the southwest parts
of the country, along with areas in north China, east China, and on the Hainan Island.
(Iwaga.org)
The term “indigenous peoples” is not recognized by the Chinese government.
According to Iwiga.org, “It has … not been clearly established which of China’s ethnic
minority groups are to be considered indigenous peoples. The Chinese government voted
in favor of the UNDRIP (United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous
Peoples) but, prior to the adoption of the UNDRIP, had already officially stated that there
were no indigenous peoples in China, which means that, in their eyes, the UNDRIP does
not apply to China” (Iwaga.org). According to Iwaga.org, the two main causes for social
unrest within China’s Ethnic Minority Regions were due to conflicts over land and
religion. In 2011, protests occurred in urban centers or small towns in Ethnic Minority
Regions. The 55 nationally recognized ethnic groups do have rights, which are protected
by the Chinese constitution, which includes the ability of creating ethnic autonomous
regions (Iwaga.org)
Overall, China is large country with many different ethnic groups; none of these
55 groups considered indigenous. Steps have been taken to incorporate the ethnic
minorities, such as giving them constitutional rights, but further steps can be taken,
especially as China addresses the growing gap between rich and poor.
Works Cited
"China." UNHCR News. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2014. <http://www.unhcr.org/cgibin/texis/vtx/page?page=49e487cd6&submit=GO>.
"Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples." Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2014.
<http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/indigenous/declaration.htm>.
"Indigenous." Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com, n.d. Web. 15 Feb. 2014.
<http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/indigenous>.
"Indigenous Peoples in China." China. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Feb. 2014.
<http://www.iwgia.org/regions/asia/china>.
"World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples - China : Overview." Refworld.
N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2014.<http://www.refworld.org/docid/4954ce5b23.html>.