Commentary
It’s noteworthy that many Hongkongers charged with national security crimes, including pro-democracy protesters, are pleading guilty. On occasion, such news is met with derision. Some do not realize that it is yet another sign of the sinicization of Hong Kong’s legal system—particularly Beijing’s implementation of the national security law in the city.
In China, there really is no decision to be made. You confess—always. It’s just how the legal system works in the communist country, and to not confess would be foolish in almost any circumstance. Chinese government data for 2021, the year with the most recent complete data, show there are 511 not-guilty verdicts out of 1.7 million verdicts. The numbers are shocking….