I. Introduction: Persecution as Policy
China’s rapid development and global influence mask an alarming reality: the systematic persecution of ethnic and religious minorities. Uyghurs, Tibetans, Christians, and practitioners of Falun Gong face targeted repression that includes detention, cultural erasure, and restrictions on religious practice. This climate of fear and discrimination has forced countless individuals to flee abroad, contributing to a growing exodus in search of safety and freedom.

II. Uyghurs and Mass Detention in Xinjiang
The Uyghur Muslim population in Xinjiang faces some of the most severe human rights abuses in the world. Reports document mass internment camps where detainees undergo political indoctrination, forced labour, and abuse. Mosques are destroyed or heavily monitored, and Islamic practices such as fasting or wearing religious clothing are criminalised. These conditions have driven thousands of Uyghurs to seek asylum abroad, despite threats to their families who remain in China.

III. Tibetan Culture Under Siege
Tibetans continue to endure intense restrictions on their cultural and religious life. Buddhist monasteries are tightly controlled, religious leaders are appointed by the state, and expressions of Tibetan identity are suppressed. Cultural erasure, coupled with economic marginalisation, fuels Tibetan migration to neighbouring countries such as India and Nepal.

IV. Christians Facing State Repression
China’s Christian population faces significant restrictions, particularly unregistered or underground churches. Authorities raid services, arrest pastors, and demand loyalty to the state-approved church system. Bibles and religious texts are censored, and religious gatherings are closely monitored. This climate forces many Christians to worship in secrecy or leave the country to practice their faith freely.

V. Persecution of Falun Gong Practitioners
Since 1999, practitioners of Falun Gong have been subjected to systematic persecution, including imprisonment, torture, and reports of forced organ harvesting. The movement,
which combines meditation with moral teachings, is labelled a threat by the state. Those who continue to practice face harassment and severe punishment, leaving exile as their only safe option.

VI. Surveillance and Cultural Erasure
China employs sophisticated surveillance systems to monitor ethnic and religious minorities. Facial recognition, online tracking, and checkpoints in minority regions ensure near-total control of daily life. Alongside surveillance, cultural traditions—from language to religious rituals—are restricted, leading to a slow but deliberate erasure of identity.

VII. Forced Assimilation and Indoctrination
Children from minority communities are often placed in state-run boarding schools where they are taught Mandarin and indoctrinated with CCP ideology. This forced assimilation undermines minority languages, cultures, and identities, causing lasting trauma for younger generations.

VIII. International Condemnation and Diaspora Testimonies
International organisations, foreign governments, and human rights groups have condemned China’s treatment of minorities. Testimonies from diaspora communities provide chilling accounts of detention, family separation, and systemic abuse, bringing global attention to the crisis.

IX. Families Divided by Borders
Many who flee China leave behind families who are then subjected to harassment, surveillance, or detention as collective punishment. This deliberate targeting of families creates lasting divisions and further silences dissent among minority communities.

X. Migration as Survival
For ethnic and religious minorities, migration is often a matter of survival rather than choice. Asylum claims frequently cite detention, forced labour, and cultural persecution. Exile provides a lifeline to preserve their identities and practice their faiths freely.

XI. Diaspora Advocacy and Resistance
Communities in exile play a vital role in advocating for those left behind. Uyghur, Tibetan, and Falun Gong diaspora groups amplify voices of resistance, document abuses, and lobby governments to act against China’s repressive policies.

XII. Conclusion: Exodus as Evidence of Repression
The persecution of ethnic and religious minorities in China is systematic and deliberate, leaving migration as the only escape. Until China respects cultural diversity, religious freedom, and human rights, the exodus will continue, serving as both a survival strategy for minorities and a condemnation of authoritarian repression.