Nancy Pelosi calls for release of Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong

U.S. House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi has publicly called for the release of Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong, a Christian who recently pleaded guilty to a national security charge of colluding with foreign entities. During a speech on the House floor, Pelosi characterized Hong Kong’s national security law as a tool for repression and urged the international community to advocate for the freedom of both Wong and fellow activist Jimmy Lai, noting that both men face the possibility of life imprisonment.

Wong, 29, entered his guilty plea at the High Court in Hong Kong before Judge William Tam. Prosecutors alleged that Wong, through his former political party Demosisto, campaigned for international sanctions against Hong Kong and Beijing between July and November 2020. While Wong is currently serving a sentence for a separate conviction related to an unofficial 2020 primary election, his defense attorney, Derek Chan, has argued for a reduced sentence, contending that his client's actions did not meet the most severe threshold of the offense.