Joshua Wong pleads guilty to collusion

Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong pleaded guilty on Wednesday to charges of colluding with foreign forces, a case that could result in a life sentence under a Beijing-imposed national security law. Wong, 29, appeared in court on September 2, 2026, and admitted to conspiring with others to lobby foreign governments and individuals to impose sanctions or engage in other hostile activities against Hong Kong and China. The charges stem from actions allegedly taken in 2020, after China enacted a sweeping national security law that significantly curtailed political dissent in the semi-autonomous territory. Prosecutors stated that Wong and fellow activist Nathan Law, among others, sought international pressure for democratic self-determination. This included meeting with foreign politicians, such as former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and current Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and using social media to call for sanctions. Wong also allegedly shared an online petition urging digital forensic companies to cease cooperation with Hong Kong police, leading one company to announce it would stop selling digital intelligence offerings to customers in Hong Kong and China.