Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong pleaded guilty in the High Court on Wednesday to a charge of colluding with foreign entities. The national security offence carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

According to the indictment, Wong, 29, conspired with exiled activist Nathan Law and others to seek sanctions or blockades against Hong Kong and China. Prosecutors also pointed to an international media and political campaign by the now-dissolved Demosisto party in 2019 and 2020 that sought sanctions against Hong Kong and China.

The campaign came amid the mass pro-democracy protests that rocked Hong Kong in 2019.

Hong Kong’s National Security Law was imposed by Beijing in June 2020, partly in response to months of sometimes-violent pro-democracy protests in the city the previous year.

While international human rights groups and Western countries have criticized the law as excessive given the high degree of autonomy promised to Hong Kong after its handover from British to Chinese rule in 1997, Hong Kong and Chinese officials say it was necessary to restore stability.

Wong is already in prison, serving a sentence for conspiracy to commit subversion after taking part in an unofficial primary election in 2020. His current sentence is scheduled to end next year.

(Reuters, max)