There is no doubt that the People’s Republic of China presents itself to the outside world as a unitary multi-ethnic state, composed of 56 ethnic minorities. As the Han population represents more than 90 percent of the total population, it is thus placed in the role of the majority, and other ethnic groups are called ethnic minorities. Members of minority communities enjoy special benefits in recruiting civil servants, enrolling in university and planning a family. The status of certain ethnic groups was defined and assigned in a 30-year (1950 to 1980) project called Ethnic Identification Project. Twice in the last 50 years, the Kucong people have lost their primary identity, first by joining the recognized Lahu minority, and second by assimilating into Han society through introduction of language and development policies. They came to terms with the old and forgot that they had been deprived and oppressed. The example of the Kucong people shows that a clear and explicit definition or identification of minorities is needed, which would apply to all ethnic groups without exception, through which individuals could identify as part of a particular ethnic minority and be accepted and respected as such.
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