The Chinese government signed the International Covenant on Economic，Social and Cultural Rights（ICESCR）and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights（ICCPR）in 1997 and 1998 respectively，and ratified the ICESCR in 2001.737886 It is believed that China will ratify the ICCPR in the near future. This paper will discuss the protection of the rights of ethnic minorities from the following perspectives：first，the relevant provision in ICCPR（namely Article 27，including the drafting process，different interpretations and other contentious issues）；second，the relevant legislation in China；third，some problems in the Chinese legislation on minority nationalities；and fourth，main problems China will have to face when it ratifies ICCPR.