Reflections on the debate on China’s ethnic policy: my reform proposals and their critics.

‘Minzu’ (nation or nationality) is a term that appeared in China after the Opium Wars. From 1949, the PRC established a two-level national structure with the term ‘minzu’: the Chinese nation (zhonghua minzu) at the top and 56 nationalities (minzu) at the bottom. The PRC also adopted the Soviet model in regard to administration of and policies toward the minority ‘minzu’. In recent years, amid increased tensions and conflicts among China’s ‘nationalities’ (minzu), an ongoing debate among Chinese scholars has been observed. This paper reviews this debate and clarifies some misunderstandings among different viewpoints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]