The G7, joined by Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, and the Netherlands, has publicly condemned Hong Kong’s issuance of arrest warrants and bounties targeting 19 pro-democracy activists living abroad. The move is viewed as an alarming expansion of the city’s national security law, which authorities argue is crucial for maintaining order.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong raised the issue directly with her Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, and urged an end to extraterritorial applications of the law. The G7 Rapid Response Mechanism echoed these concerns, warning that this form of repression jeopardizes human rights and undermines state sovereignty.
Beijing, however, rejected the criticism, asserting that its actions were legal and aligned with international norms.
Pro-democracy advocates and activists argue that this crackdown impedes the safe space once afforded to dissidents overseas. Many have expressed deep alarm over the anonymous bounties and harassment, calling them “political persecution.”
One of those targeted, Australian academic Dr. Feng Chongyi, condemned the warrants as “ridiculous” and a clear form of intimidation.
The controversy has sparked broader debates on the limits of national security laws and their reach beyond borders. Countries are now reconsidering asylum policies, legal protections, and potential retaliatory or defensive measures.
As global scrutiny grows, the unfolding dynamic may define how democracies respond to threats against civic freedoms—even when those threats cross geographical boundaries. The world will be watching how legal and diplomatic safeguards evolve in the coming weeks.
