Autonomous areas of China

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Administrative divisions of the People's Republic of China This article is part of the series: Political divisions of China
Province level
Provinces
Autonomous areas
Municipalities
Special Administrative Regions
Prefecture level
Prefectures
Autonomous prefectures
Prefecture-level cities
(incl. Sub-provincial cities)
Leagues
County level
Counties
Autonomous counties
County-level cities
(incl. Sub-prefecture-level cities)
City districts
Banners
Autonomous banners
Township level
Townships
Ethnic townships
Towns
Subdistricts
Sumu
Ethnic sumu
County districts

In a similar fashion to the former Soviet Union's titular nations, a number of areas associated with one or more ethnic minorities are designated as autonomous within the People's Republic of China (PRC). These areas are recognized in the PRC's constitution and are given a number of rights not accorded to other administrative divisions. Debate continues as to whether too much or too little autonomy has been granted or implemented.

The PRC's autonomous regions may be found in the first (or top) to third levels of its national administrative divisions thus:

Level	Type	Chinese	Pinyin	Number*
province (1)	Autonomous regions of China	自治区	zìzhìqū	5
prefecture (2)	Autonomous prefectures of China	自治州	zìzhìzhōu	30
county (3)	Autonomous counties of China	自治县	zìzhìxiàn	117
	Autonomous banners of China	自治旗	zìzhìqí	3

Although not named as autonomous areas, some third-level settlements and areas that are identified as county-level cities and county-level districts enjoy the same autonomy as autonomous areas. At the fourth ("township") level, 1 ethnic sumu and over 270 ethnic townships also exist, but are not considered to be autonomous and do not enjoy the laws pertaining to the larger ethnic autonomous areas.

As these autonomous areas were created by the PRC, they are not recognised by the Republic of China on Taiwan which ruled Mainland China before the PRC's creation.

Contents 1 Nomenclature 2 Legal basis 3 Demographics 4 History 5 Opinions

[edit] Nomenclature

The names of most of the PRC's autonomous areas are made from linking together:

• the name of a geographical area;
• the name or names of the predominant ethnic minority or minorities;
• the word "Autonomous";
• a type of administrative division.

For instance:

Level	Geographical area	+	Ethnic name/s	+	"Autonomous"	+	Admin. division	=	Result
1	Guangxi		Zhuang		Autonomous		Region		Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region
2	Dehong		Dai & Jingpo		Autonomous		Prefecture		Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture
3	Shizhu		Tujia		Autonomous		County		Shizhu Tujia Autonomous County
3	Morin Dawa		Daur		Autonomous		Banner		Morin Dawa Daur Autonomous Banner

In the Chinese name of the administrative area, the nationality name is always suffixed with -族 ("nationality"), unless both of the following conditions apply: the division is found in Xinjiang (or is Xinjiang); the nationality name consists of more than one syllable. This distinction is not reflected in translation into English.

Some autonomous areas have more than one specified minority, which tend to be listed in the name of the prefecture, creating rather long names. Two autonomous counties simply use "Various Nationalities" in their names as placeholders, rather than listing out all of their designated ethnicities:

Full name	Geographical	Nationality	Administrative
Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture	Enshi	Tujia and Miao	Autonomous Prefecture
Shuangjiang Lahu, Wa, Blang and Dai Autonomous County	Shuangjiang	Lahu, Wa, Blang and Dai	Autonomous County
Longlin Various Nationalities Autonomous County	Longlin	Various Nationalities (Miao, Yi and Gelao)	Autonomous County
Longsheng Various Nationalities Autonomous County	Longsheng	Various Nationalities (Dong, Yao, Miao)	Autonomous County

A few autonomous areas break the regular nomenclature pattern, because the name of the nationality is already contained within the geographical name, or because there is no geographical name:

Full name	Geographical	Nationality	Administrative
Tibet Autonomous Region	Tibet	(Tibetan)	Autonomous Region
Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region	Inner Mongolia	(Mongol)	Autonomous Region
Dongxiang Autonomous County	—	Dongxiang	Autonomous County
Evenki Autonomous Banner	—	Evenks	Autonomous Banner
Oroqin Autonomous Banner	—	Oroqin	Autonomous Banner

[edit] Legal basis

Autonomous regions, prefectures, counties, and banners are covered under Section 6 of Chapter 3 (Articles 111-122) of the Constitution of the People's Republic of China, and with more detail under the Law of the People's Republic of China on Regional National Autonomy (《中华人民共和国民族区域自治法》). The constitution states that the head of government of each autonomous areas must be of the ethnic group as specified by the autonomous area (Tibetan, Uyghur, etc). The constitution also guarantees a range of rights including: independence of finance, independence of economic planning, independence of arts, science and culture, organization of local police, and use of local language. In addition, the head of government of each autonomous region is known as a "chairman", unlike provinces, where they are known as "governors".

[edit] Demographics

Of the five autonomous regions, only Tibet has an absolute majority (>50%) of the designated ethnic group, namely, the Tibetans. Xinjiang has a relative majority (<50%) of the designated ethnic group, the Uyghurs, though this is disputed by Uyghur independence advocates, who claim that the Han Chinese population in Xinjiang has been severely understated. The remaining 3 autonomous regions have absolute majorities of Han Chinese, the majority ethnicity of China.

[edit] History

Autonomous regions, prefectures, counties, and banners were established after communist takeover, following Soviet practice. At first, the nomenclature of these autonomous areas were somewhat confused, with autonomous regions appearing at the province, prefecture, county, and township levels. Eventually the nomenclature was standardized to the conventions used today.

The first autonomous region to be established was Inner Mongolia, created within communist-held territory in 1947, two years before the establishment of the People's Republic. Xinjiang was converted from a province to an autonomous region in 1955. Guangxi and Ningxia followed in 1957, and Tibet Autonomous Region was formally established in 1965.

[edit] Opinions

Autonomous administrative areas, as well as the various rights granted to them, are affirmed by the government as a positive example of local self-rule in ethnic areas, and an acknowledgement of minority self-determination unprecedented in Chinese history. It is argued that these autonomous areas have facilitated the preservation and development of non-Han Chinese cultures while maintaining the territorial integrity of China.

However, they have also drawn criticism from various groups. Some have questioned the necessity of setting up autonomous areas in areas where the designated ethnicity is actually a minority (true for 3 out of the 5 autonomous regions: Inner Mongolia, Guangxi, and Ningxia). They also point out that autonomous regions pursue affirmative action policies which are viewed as discriminatory, such as less preferential treatment in school admissions and government employment opportunities for Han Chinese; this is viewed as unfair reverse discrimination, especially in areas where Han Chinese are actually the majority. Finally, some contend that the existence of these autonomous areas, and the extra privileges they enjoy, are a danger to national unity.

Conversely, some have said that autonomous areas offer little or no actual autonomy, as officials (minority or not) are appointed from above rather than elected democratically by the people. In particular, advocates for Tibetan, Xinjiang, and Inner Mongolian independence would view the autonomous regions as facades of so-called autonomy that belie actual policies of repression and assimilation. In addition, real power within the autonomous area lies with the local Communist Party committee secretary (who is usually Han Chinese) rather than the head of government who is required to be of the designated minority. Also, the ranks of government may become filled with Han Chinese, since only the head of government needs to be of the designated minority.