News Analysis Beijing’s latest national Mandarin language policy targets Hong Kong and Macao as indicated in a recently published article by the regime’s State Council. Subsequently, at least one radio station canceled its Cantonese programs. Public opinion raises concern over cultural extinction. Cantonese is a popular dialect in southern China, even an official language in Hong Kong; but Beijing’s recent policy demands Mandarin education and testing to ensure fluency by 85 percent of the population by 2025. According to an Opinion published by the State Council on strengthening language and writing in the new era issued on Nov. 30, “Putonghua” (Mandarin Chinese) should dominate in ethnic and rural areas by 2035. In particular, it should be widely spoken and recognized in Hong Kong and Macao, which would also receive substantial support and collaboration in the effort to promote the policy. Activists are concerned that the policy is meant to eradicate the …