So China is not allowed to do exactly the same as most countries in the West does? To keep a certain standard of education across the whole country? (Oh, sorry, yeah I know. The US doesn't. Here the standard depends on where you live and what color the people in the neighbourhood has.)
That's a good point. The US has had a history of cultural extermination --up to making it illegal for Native peoples to speak their own languages --or simply wear eagle feathers or traditional ornaments at school graduations. Way back, they called it "civilizing" the savages. It continued well into the 20th century.
However, "English only" didn't even work in British Canada. In fact, in the Britain Isles, there has been a resurgence of cultural heritage and languages (Welsh, Gaelic, etc), and the Scots have their own thing. What English has (somewhat) is a standard written language.
So, I understand the point about the need in China for a common written language. However, isn't that the case already?
I actually agree with having a national educational curriculum. I even agree that people need to learn the standard language in order to be employable. It's no different here in the states. Well, except there are so many people who are actively against academic education yet demand English-only. I believe that instituting culture as a policy can be ruthless --and more akin to the goals of South African apartheid.
Anyway, here's the important aspect from my perspective.
n China there are 55 minorities. Most of them have their own languages and culture. They are all bi-lingual and speak their own dialects or languages at home....
Do you really believe that if there was a genocide going on in the close neighbourhood that people would even dare to speak up?
The problem is that you're speaking for them. And, the fact that some are complaining doesn't mean that it's not happening. I didn't read that they were claiming genocide. I thought it was about attempts to erase their cultures.