Prominent Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong pleads guilty in second national security case

Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong has pleaded guilty to a second national security case, this time under a Beijing-imposed law that has curtailed the city's once-vibrant pro-democracy movement. The 29-year-old, a prominent figure in the movement, faces up to life in prison for allegedly conspiring with foreign forces to endanger national security between July 2020 and November 2020.

Wong is already serving a four-year and eight-month sentence for a separate case linked to an unofficial primary. Critics argue that Wong's case demonstrates the authorities' resolve to silence prominent dissidents, potentially creating a chilling effect on civic activism. However, Beijing views Wong as an anti-China figure who supports Hong Kong independence, a stance that is considered a red line for authorities.

Brief written by urgent.news from Associated Press's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.