Canada and Nine Allies Urge China to End Unjust Prosecutions After Joshua Wong's 10-Year Sentence

Canada has joined nine other countries in calling on China and Hong Kong authorities to end what they describe as unjust prosecutions under Hong Kong’s National Security Law, following the sentencing of pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong to another 10 years in prison.

The joint statement, issued on November 6, 2026, brings together Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. The governments expressed concern about the use of national security legislation against individuals for political expression and participation.

The statement has renewed international attention on Hong Kong's political freedoms, the role of Beijing-imposed security legislation and the future of the city's democratic movement. It also highlights continuing disagreements between China and several Western governments over human rights, judicial independence and Hong Kong's autonomy.

Canada and Nine Countries Condemn Joshua Wong's Sentence

The joint declaration followed the sentencing of Joshua Wong to 10 years in prison after a further charge under Hong Kong's National Security Law. The governments described the case, alongside the recent convictions of Hong Kong Alliance leaders, as further examples of legislation being used against people for political expression and participation.

The countries called for an immediate end to prosecutions they consider unjust against individuals charged under the National Security Law. They also urged authorities in China and Hong Kong to respect their international commitments and protect the rights and freedoms guaranteed to Hong Kong residents.

Canada's participation places it alongside several major Western democracies in a coordinated diplomatic response. Rather than issuing separate national statements, the ten governments presented a shared position on the implications of the latest sentence.

The declaration specifically referred to the Sino-British Joint Declaration of 1984, the international agreement associated with the arrangements governing Hong Kong's return to Chinese sovereignty and the preservation of its rights and freedoms.

Who Is Joshua Wong and Why Is His Case Significant?

Joshua Wong is one of Hong Kong's most internationally recognized pro-democracy activists. He became prominent through his involvement in the city's democracy movement and was among the leading figures associated with the 2014 Umbrella Movement.

His political activism helped make him a recognizable figure in international discussions about Hong Kong's democratic development. Wong became particularly well known among supporters of greater political participation, electoral reform and the protection of civil liberties.

His latest sentence is especially significant because it follows years of legal proceedings and imprisonment. According to reports, Wong had already been serving a prison term of four years and eight months in connection with an earlier national security case.

The latest 10-year sentence followed a further charge of collusion with foreign entities under Hong Kong's National Security Law. The case has therefore become another focal point in the international debate over how national security legislation is applied to political activists.

For supporters of Hong Kong's democracy movement, Wong's case represents a broader concern about the ability of political activists to express their views and participate in public life. Chinese and Hong Kong authorities, however, have defended national security measures as part of maintaining security and stability.

What Is Hong Kong's National Security Law?

Hong Kong's National Security Law, commonly known as the NSL, was imposed by Beijing in 2020 following months of widespread protests and political unrest in the territory.

The legislation established criminal offences relating to activities that authorities classify as threats to national security. These include secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces.

The introduction of the law represented a major development in Hong Kong's political and legal environment. Chinese authorities have argued that the legislation is necessary to protect national security and restore stability following the demonstrations.

Critics, including human rights organizations and several foreign governments, have raised concerns about its effects on civil liberties, political opposition, freedom of expression and the independence of Hong Kong's institutions.

The disagreement is at the center of the latest diplomatic response. The ten governments argue that prosecutions under the law are increasingly affecting individuals because of their political expression and participation.

Why the National Security Law Remains Controversial

Several issues have contributed to the continuing international debate:

• Political expression: Concerns about whether individuals can criticize government policies without facing criminal prosecution.
• Democratic participation: Questions about the ability of political activists and organizations to participate in public affairs.
• National security: Disagreements over how broadly security-related offences should be interpreted and enforced.
• Judicial independence: International concerns about the relationship between political authority and Hong Kong's legal institutions.
• International commitments: Questions about the continued protection of rights and freedoms under the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration.

These issues explain why individual prosecutions under the legislation can attract international attention beyond Hong Kong itself.

Hong Kong Alliance Convictions Add to International Concerns

The joint statement did not focus exclusively on Joshua Wong. It also referred to the convictions of leaders of the Hong Kong Alliance, which were brought under the same national security legislation.

The reference is important because it demonstrates that the governments' concerns extend beyond one prominent activist. Their statement connects separate legal cases to a wider debate about the treatment of political expression and participation in Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong Alliance has been associated with efforts to commemorate the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown and maintain public discussion of the events. Its leaders' convictions have added to international criticism of the restrictions facing civil society organizations and political activists.

By mentioning these cases together, the ten governments presented the latest developments as part of a broader pattern that they believe requires attention from the authorities in China and Hong Kong.

What the Sino-British Joint Declaration Means for Hong Kong

The Sino-British Joint Declaration, signed in 1984, established the framework for the transfer of Hong Kong from British to Chinese sovereignty in 1997.

Under the agreement, Hong Kong was to maintain a high degree of autonomy and preserve its existing way of life, legal system and certain rights and freedoms under the principle commonly described as one country, two systems.

The framework became a central part of the international discussion surrounding Hong Kong's political and legal future. It is also the agreement specifically referenced in the latest joint statement.

By invoking the declaration, Canada and the other governments are emphasizing that their concerns involve not only individual court cases but also broader international commitments concerning Hong Kong's status and freedoms.

Disagreements over how these commitments should be interpreted and implemented have contributed to tensions between Beijing and Western governments for several years.

China's Position and the Wider Diplomatic Dispute

China has consistently rejected foreign criticism of its policies in Hong Kong, arguing that the territory's national security matters fall within its sovereignty and domestic affairs.

In response to previous criticism of the sentencing, the British government faced objections from China's diplomatic representatives, who called on foreign lawmakers to respect Chinese sovereignty and Hong Kong's legal system.

The Chinese embassy had not immediately responded to a request for comment on the latest joint statement, according to Reuters reporting on November 6.

This disagreement illustrates the diplomatic challenge facing countries that seek to raise human rights concerns while maintaining political and economic relations with China.

Canada's participation is particularly relevant because the country has previously expressed concerns about developments in Hong Kong and the treatment of people connected to its pro-democracy movement. The latest statement demonstrates that Ottawa is continuing to address these issues through international diplomatic cooperation.

What Happens Next After the International Statement?

The joint declaration represents a coordinated diplomatic expression of concern, but it does not itself change the legal status of Joshua Wong or overturn the court's decision.

Its immediate significance lies in placing the case within a wider international discussion about Hong Kong's national security legislation and the obligations of the authorities under existing international commitments.

Several developments will remain important to watch:

• China's response: Whether Beijing or Hong Kong authorities issue a formal response to the ten governments' demands.
• Joshua Wong's legal position: Any further developments concerning his sentence or possible legal proceedings.
• International diplomacy: Whether other governments take similar positions or raise the issue through additional diplomatic channels.
• Human rights conditions: Whether the treatment of political activists and civil society organizations in Hong Kong changes.

The statement also raises a broader question about the future relationship between China and countries that continue to criticize the application of national security laws in Hong Kong.

Why Canada's Statement Matters Beyond Hong Kong

The latest development is significant because it shows how a domestic legal case in Hong Kong can become an issue of international diplomacy.

Canada and its nine partners have linked Joshua Wong's sentence to wider concerns about political freedoms, international agreements and the application of national security legislation.

For Canada, joining the statement reinforces its public position on the protection of rights and freedoms in Hong Kong. For the other participating governments, the declaration provides a coordinated way to communicate their concerns to Beijing and Hong Kong authorities.

Whether the statement leads to any change in policy remains uncertain. However, the diplomatic response demonstrates that the future of Hong Kong's political freedoms continues to attract attention from governments around the world.

As developments unfold, Joshua Wong's case is likely to remain an important reference point in discussions about the National Security Law, Hong Kong's autonomy and the balance between national security and civil liberties.

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External source: UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office – Joint Statement on the Sentencing of Joshua Wong.