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Protesters hold placards as they gather for a 'solidarity action' outside the Chinese Embassy in London on November 8, 2025, in support of the Hong Kong Alliance defendants. A Hong Kong court ruled last week that it will go ahead with the national security trial of three Tiananmen activists, leaders of the now-disbanded vigil organiser group -- known as the Hong Kong Alliance in January, rejecting a last-ditch application to toss out the case. Vigils have been banned since 2020, when Beijing imposed a national security law on the financial hub following huge, sometimes violent pro-democracy protests the year before. Protesters hold placards as they gather for a 'solidarity action' outside the Chinese Embassy in London on November 8, 2025, in support of the Hong Kong Alliance defendants. A Hong Kong court ruled last week that it will go ahead with the national security trial of three Tiananmen activists, leaders of the now-disbanded vigil organiser group -- known as the Hong Kong Alliance in January, rejecting a last-ditch application to toss out the case. Vigils have been banned since 2020, when Beijing imposed a national security law on the financial hub following huge, sometimes violent pro-democracy protests the year before. © AFP

13:01

Issued on: 22/05/2026 - 15:38Modified: 22/05/2026 - 15:40

From the show

Access Asia

As a trial of former organisers of Hong Kong's Tiananmen vigils has concluded, FRANCE 24's Yuka Royer speaks with Wu'er Kaixi, one of the student leaders who led mass protests leading up to the brutal 1989 crackdown. Nearly 37 years since the tragedy, the exiled campaigner laments China's continued oppression of dissident voices and ethnic minorities. 

Also on the show: 

"Taiwan Travelogue", a novel exploring the history of the island during Japan's colonial rule through the lens of travel and food, has won this year's International Booker Prize. Author Yang Shuang-zi says she hopes her work could be read in China and provide an opportunity for dialogue. 

Plus, football has brought North Korea into the global spotlight. Naegohyang Women's FC scored a 2-1 win against South Korea's Suwon FC, offering a glimpse into decades-long efforts by Pyongyang to invest in the sport as a tool that can boost its international profile. 

By:

Yuka Royer