China has been preparing to pass a new law promoting “ethnic unity”, which has raised concerns it could increase pressure on religious minorities and Christians.

Christian campaigner Ben Rogers warned the move would strengthen efforts by the state to force religious groups to conform to Communist Party control.

China’s parliament was expected to approve the legislation during its annual session this week. Critics said the law would formalise policies already used by the government to assimilate ethnic minorities into the dominant Han Chinese culture.

The proposal has encouraged greater use of Mandarin in education, promoted integration between ethnic groups and banned actions seen as damaging to “ethnic unity”.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping had previously called for the “Sinicisation of religion”, meaning religious belief must align with Chinese Communist Party values.

Ben Rogers, co-founder of Hong Kong Watch, told Premier Christian News the law was part of a wider effort to increase state control.

He said: “It is a plan to tighten efforts already underway to force ethnic and religious groups into a more forcibly assimilated Han Chinese identity.”

Rogers said the policy would likely prioritise Mandarin over minority languages such as Tibetan and Uyghur and deepen pressure on churches.

He explained that within state-controlled churches, believers had already been required to display images of "Xi Jinping and Communist Party propaganda".

He added: “For Christians it will further develop the campaign of what Xi Jinping calls Sinicisation, which is really about coercing believers to support and be loyal to the Communist Party.”

Rogers said many Christian leaders continued to show “extraordinary faith” despite arrests and increasing surveillance.

He urged believers around the world to pray for persecuted Christians in China and for political leaders, including Xi Jinping, to have a “change of heart”.