China Enforces Mandarin-Language Instruction in Inner Mongolia Schools, Sparking Fears of Cultural Loss

‘If our language disappears, so will our ethnic identity,’ one parent says.

Mongolians protest against China's plan to introduce Mandarin-only classes at schools in Inner Mongolia, in Sukhbaatar Square in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, on Sept. 15, 2020. Byambasuren Byamba-Ochir/AFP via Getty Images

Chinese authorities have implemented a sweeping language policy shift in China’s Inner Mongolia region, mandating Mandarin as the main language of instruction across all school curricula. Some ethnic Mongolians recently expressed deep concern to The Epoch Times, fearing the loss of their language, culture, and identity.

All the interviewees withheld their full names out of fear of reprisal by the authorities.