Call to end ‘unjust’ national security cases as Hong Kong slams ‘malicious attacks’
Foreign ministers call for an end to 'unjust prosecutions' after activist Joshua Wong is jailed for 10 years
Quick Look
Foreign ministers from 10 countries, including Five Eyes allies, issued a joint statement condemning Hong Kong's national security law and demanding an end to 'unjust prosecutions' following the 10-year prison sentence handed to activist Joshua Wong.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Joshua Wong was sentenced to 10 years for his role in a campaign to instigate sanctions against mainland China and Hong Kong following 2019 anti-government protests.
Ten countries – including the “Five Eyes” allies – have called for an immediate end to “unjust prosecutions” under Hong Kong’s national security law after opposition activist Joshua Wong Chi-fung was jailed for 10 years, while the government has urged foreign forces to stop their “baseless malicious attacks”.
The foreign ministers of the 10 countries issued a joint statement on Friday, a day after the High Court sentenced Wong over his role in a global campaign to instigate sanctions against mainland China and the city following the 2019 anti-government protests.
“These are further examples of how the national security law is being used to target individuals for political expression and participation,” said the statement from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Open Questions
- Will the Hong Kong government impose retaliatory measures?
- How will the 10 countries follow up on their statement?
