Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong pleaded guilty on September 2, 2025, to conspiracy to collude with foreign forces under Beijing’s National Security Law (NSL), facing up to life in prison for coordinating with foreign entities to impose sanctions against China. The 29-year-old, already serving a four-year and eight-month sentence for subversion, is expected to be sentenced later, with his case highlighting Beijing’s crackdown on dissent.
Hong Kong Pro-Democracy Activist Joshua Wong Pleads Guilty to Foreign Collusion Under National Security Law
NSL (National Security Law)
The charge, under Hong Kong’s NSL, carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Wong, who was accused of conspiring with self-exiled activist Nathan Law and others to request foreign countries to impose sanctions, blockades, or engage in other hostile activities against Hong Kong or China between July 1 and November 23, 2020, admitted guilt in court. The offense is punishable by three to 10 years in prison, or up to life imprisonment if the offense is deemed to be of a grave nature.
Wong, a central figure in Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement, has been at the forefront of political activism since the Umbrella Movement in 2014 and the massive pro-democracy protests in 2019. He was already serving a prison term of four years and eight months after entering a guilty plea in a separate NSL case linked to an unofficial political primary. His earlier jail term is due to end early next year, according to the court. He was arrested in June 2025 by the police’s national security department for the collusion-related offense.
U.S. Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act
Wong, who co-founded the pro-democracy party Demosistō in 2016, was also accused of urging foreign governments to disrupt Hong Kong’s legal framework. The defendant and his affiliates had adopted international lobbying strategies to seek foreign attention and support, prosecutor Mingme Yeung stated.
In court, supporters shouted Hang in there, Joshua!
as Wong nodded in response, according to Yahoo.
Jimmy Lai
Wong’s case underscores Beijing’s broader strategy to silence dissent. The NSL, imposed in 2020, has led to the jailing of dozens of activists, including former media tycoon Jimmy Lai. Wong’s latest guilty plea adds to the legal challenges facing Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement, which has been effectively dismantled under the law.
The case highlights the NSL’s role in curbing international advocacy by Hong Kong activists. Wong’s sentencing, expected in the coming weeks, will further test the law’s reach.
Human rights groups have criticized the charges as a tool to suppress dissent. The new charges aim to keep him behind bars as long as possible, said The Star.
Hong Kong 47 Case
Wong, who was among 45 prominent campaigners convicted in the “Hong Kong 47” case in 2024, faces an uncertain future. His latest conviction could add years to his prison stint, as the activist was originally expected to complete his sentence in 2027. The NSL has effectively stifled the city’s once-thriving pro-democracy movement, with critics arguing that it has created a climate of fear and quashed dissent.
The charges stem from activities that took place in 2020, the year China introduced the controversial NSL. Wong’s guilty plea was confirmed in court, with the activist smiling and nodding in thanks after a supporter in the public gallery shouted “hang in there!”
The NSL, which targets acts of secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces, has been widely criticized by international human rights organizations. Wong’s case is seen as a pivotal moment in the ongoing struggle for political freedom in Hong Kong.
As the legal proceedings continue, the international community remains divided on the NSL’s impact. While Beijing asserts that the law is necessary to maintain stability, critics argue that it has eroded Hong Kong’s autonomy and freedoms. Wong’s fate will likely serve as a symbol of the broader battle over the city’s democratic future.
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