Law aimed at bolstering standard Chinese language education passed

China's top legislature passed the revised Law on the Standard Spoken and Written Chinese Language on Saturday, designating the third week of September as the week for a nationwide promotion for the standard spoken and written Chinese language.

The law was submitted for its second review during a National People's Congress Standing Committee session held from Monday to Saturday.

The standard spoken and written Chinese language is an important symbol of the nation. At present, over 80 percent of the population can speak Mandarin, and more than 95 percent of the literate population — which stands at 97.33 — uses standardized Chinese characters. Establishing the promotion week is conducive to fostering a social atmosphere that encourages learning and using the standard spoken and written Chinese language.

Comprising five chapters and 32 articles, the revised law is set to take effect on Jan 1, 2026. It aims to strengthen education in the standard spoken and written Chinese language, promote innovation in its information technology, and enhance requirements for the standardization of language and characters used in cyberspace.

A dedicated chapter on legal liability specifies law enforcement departments and outlines penalties in detail. According to the law, interference with others' learning or use of the standard spoken and written Chinese language will be subject to criticism and education by relevant departments, along with orders for correction and warnings. Administrative penalties for public security violations shall be imposed if such acts constitute violations of public security management.