Taiwan Groups Demand Joshua Wong’s Release After Guilty Plea in Hong Kong National Security Case
Taiwanese civic groups and Hong Kong activists in Taipei are calling for the immediate and unconditional release of jailed pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong after he pleaded guilty in a second national security case that could potentially send him to prison for life.
Wong, 29, entered the guilty plea on Sept. 2 at Hong Kong’s High Court to a charge of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces. Prosecutors accused him of working with exiled former lawmaker Nathan Law and others to seek foreign sanctions, blockades or other hostile measures against Hong Kong and China in 2020.
The charge carries a prison term of three to 10 years, but can result in life imprisonment if classified as being of a grave nature under Hong Kong’s national security law. Wong’s sentencing has been postponed to a later date.
Taiwan activists rally behind Wong
On Wednesday, Taiwan-based civic groups and Hong Kongers gathered outside Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan in Taipei, calling on Hong Kong authorities to drop the charges against Wong and other political prisoners.
The groups also urged Taiwan’s government to publicly support Wong and work with the international community to monitor his treatment in prison.
Among those participating were Amnesty International Taiwan, the Taiwan Hong Kong Association and other civil-society organizations.
Their message was direct: they argue that Hong Kong’s national security legislation is being used to suppress peaceful political advocacy, freedom of expression and international human-rights activity.
Wong is already serving a prison sentence
The new case could extend Wong’s time behind bars.
He is currently serving a four-year-and-eight-month sentence stemming from a previous national security case involving an unofficial 2020 primary election organized by Hong Kong’s pro-democracy camp. That sentence is scheduled to end in early 2027.
The latest prosecution therefore means Wong could remain imprisoned well beyond his originally expected release date.
Reuters reported that prosecutors accused Wong of conspiring with Nathan Law and others to approach foreign governments and organizations seeking sanctions or blockades against Hong Kong and China.
A second national security prosecution
This is Wong’s second prosecution under Hong Kong’s Beijing-imposed National Security Law, which came into effect in June 2020.
The law has been widely criticized by rights groups and Western governments for restricting political freedoms, while Hong Kong and Chinese authorities argue that it is necessary to protect national security and stability.
Wong's case has drawn international attention because he became one of the most recognizable faces of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement while still a teenager.
He first gained prominence during protests against a proposed national education curriculum in 2012 and later became a prominent figure in the 2014 Umbrella Movement. He subsequently co-founded the pro-democracy political group Demosisto, which dissolved in 2020 after the national security law came into force.
Why the guilty plea matters
Wong’s guilty plea does not mean he will automatically receive the maximum sentence.
His defense lawyer has asked the court to take into account Wong’s age and the length of time he has already spent in prison. RTHK reported that Wong has been incarcerated since he was 24 and that his existing sentence runs until January 2027.
A guilty plea can also affect sentencing, although the ultimate punishment will be determined by the court.
The case has now become another major test of Hong Kong’s national security framework — and a flashpoint in Taiwan over the future of political freedoms in the city.
International pressure grows
Support for Wong is not limited to Taiwan.
US-based Freedom House announced on Sept. 1 that it was formally adopting Wong’s case as part of its campaign to advocate for the release of political prisoners.
The renewed attention comes as Taiwan itself faces increasingly tense relations with Beijing. Taipei has repeatedly warned that developments in Hong Kong could provide lessons for Taiwan as China continues to claim sovereignty over the island.
For Wong, however, the immediate issue is much more personal: his second national security case could determine whether he walks free in 2027 — or spends many more years behind bars.
Will Joshua Wong’s guilty plea lead to a reduced sentence — or could the 29-year-old activist face decades more in prison?
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.D