China toughens national security 10 years after '709' crackdown

Widespread repression of human rights lawyers extends to further restraints

20250709 709 crackdown protest in HK in 2018

July 9 marks the 10th anniversary of the "709" crackdown against human rights lawyers and advocates in mainland China. Before Beijing imposed a national security law in June 2020, Hong Kong could still hold open protests, such as this one in 2018. That is no longer the case, as many figures in the rights movement, including Albert Ho Chun-yan, center, are now behind bars. © Getty Images

KENJI KAWASE

July 9, 2025 14:20 JST

TOKYO -- In the decade since China's widespread crackdown on human rights lawyers and advocates, Beijing has enhanced the national security apparatus to further suppress civil society.

"No Chinese authorities have been held accountable for grave rights abuses against lawyers and human rights defenders, emboldening the government to commit increasingly widespread and systematic human rights violations," read a joint statement from 31 organizations defending human rights, including Amnesty International, Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders and Lawyers for Lawyers.