Hong Kong Activist Joshua Wong Sentenced to 10 Years for Foreign Collusion

The update

Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong, 30, was sentenced on Thursday to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty in September to foreign collusion, his second conviction under the national security law imposed by Beijing. The court said Wong worked with exiled activist Nathan Law to urge foreign powers to impose sanctions, blockades or other hostile measures against China and Hong Kong. High Court Judge William Tam described the actions as grave in nature, and said the new sentence will run concurrently with the remaining term of Wong’s previous offence.

Why it matters

Wong rose to prominence as the teenage face of Hong Kong’s 2014 pro-democracy demonstrations. He is already serving four years and eight months, imposed in November 2024, for conspiracy to commit subversion over an unofficial primary election, has spent nearly six years in detention, and had been due for release in January 2027. Critics say the law has been used to silence political opposition, and this case, built around calls for foreign sanctions, directly involves other governments.

What to watch

Watch for reactions from foreign governments and rights groups, and for any appeal or further cases against other activists.

Sources

• theguardian.com — confirms the 10-year sentence, guilty plea, Judge Tam’s reasoning and concurrent term
• scmp.com — independently confirms the High Court sentence for conspiring with Nathan Law to collude with foreign forces

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