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Aparna A Nair
4 September 2026 |
On 02 September, Hong-Kong based pro-democracy activist Josua Wong pled guilty to colluding with foreign actors under China’s national security law. He had been serving a sentence of four years and eight month on charges of subversion and was shecduled to be released from prison in 2027 when he pleaded guilty.
Who is Joshua Wong?
Joshua Wong Chi- Fung is a prominent Hong Kong-based pro-democracy activist. He began his activist journey at the age of 14, fighting against government overreach. In 2012, he demanded that the Hong Kong government suspend the proposed national education curriculum, which was widely regarded as political indoctrination. Pressured by school walkouts and public demonstrations, the government suspended the program. He was first arrested in a Hong Kong Civic Square protest for unlawful assembly in 2014. Initially, he was sentenced to community service, but later it was increased to six months behind bars. In 2016, he co-founded Demosisto with Nathem Law and Agnes Chow, advocating for greater autonomy for the Special Administrative Region. He advocated for civic rights, protection of democratic principles and self-determination.
In 2020, Beijing introduced the National Security Law (NSL) in Hong Kong that criminalised secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces. The legislation also granted greater autonomy to the mainland in court proceedings. Since then, his party was disbanded, and he was arrested.
What are the charges against him?
The first charge he’s currently jailed for is subversion. He was one of the 45 pro-democracy figures involved in an unofficial legislative primary election in July 2020. The Prosecutors argued that his actions aimed to paralyse the government and undermine state power. In 2024, Wong pleaded guilty to conspiracy to subvert state power and was sentenced to four years and eight months in prison. He has been in custody since late 2020 and was due to be released in early 2027.
The latest charges are for collusion with foreign powers. On 02 September, he pleaded guilty to a second NSL charge- conspiracy to collude with a foreign country or external elements to endanger national security. The charge sheet reads that he conspired with exiled activist Nathan Law and others in 2020 and called foreign powers for sanctions, blockades, or other hostile activities against China and Hong Kong. Usually, this offence carries a statutory range of three to 10 years, or up to life imprisonment. The new conviction is expected to add more years to his existing terms.
Why did he plead guilty now?
This can be viewed as a tactical move to get a lighter sentence, as the evidence is strong. The common law principles in Hong Kong courts are that an early guilty plea results in a mitigated sentence. The court views it as accepted responsibility and as an act of remorse. On top of that, he is serving a four-year and eight-month subversion sentence. The new collusion charge will be added on top of his existing term. The latest literature suggests that all these factors might have resulted in an early guilty plea.
Is there a larger trend of jailed activists in China?
Yes. When NSL took effect, a wide range of pro-democracy activists, lawmakers, journalists, and civil society figures were arrested. The founder of the pro-democracy Apple Daily newspaper, Jimmy Lai, was convicted of collusion with foreign powers and sentenced to 20 years this year. Chow Hang‑tung and Lee Cheuk‑yan, organisers of the annual Tiananmen Square vigil, are now facing 10 years in jail for subversion. Many NSL defendants, including Wong and Benny Tai, are convicted of subversion and are facing multi-year sentences.
The latest official figures show that more than 400 have been arrested under the NSL since 2020. This includes over 200 charges and 180 people convicted, denoting a systemic crackdown on organised opposition. Many view Beijing's action as an effort to eradicate Hong Kong’s Basic Law - “one country, two systems". Such strong convictions and oppression are aimed at reshaping Hong Kong's political landscape and neutralising leading activists.
References:
“Hong Kong: Jailed activist Joshua Wong pleads guilty to foreign collusion under National Security Law,” BBC, 02 September 2026
“Hong Kong: How is it run, and what is the Basic Law?,” BBC, 01 July 2022
“Who is Joshua Wong, the Hong Kong activist jailed for a 2019 protest?,” Reuters, 02 December 2020
