Former lawmaker arrested for collusion with foreign forces

• Former lawmaker Au Kam San was arrested for collusion with foreign forces.
• This is the first public arrest under the national security law in Macau.
• The tightening of political control in Macau followed protests in Hong Kong.

In Macau, police arrested former lawmaker Au Kam San, suspected of colluding with foreign forces in violation of the national security law.

68-year-old Macau resident Au, known for his anti-government stance, allegedly collaborated with foreign groups to provide misleading and subversive materials for public dissemination online or via pamphlets. According to police, these actions were aimed at undermining the central government of China and the government of Macau among residents, as well as via pamphlets.

Au's arrest took place on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, making him the first known person arrested under the new provisions of the national security law, which was enacted in 2009 and amended in 2023. Au was previously the only lawmaker who had critically expressed views about the government.

Since Macau's return to Chinese control in 1999, the city has become the largest gambling center in the world. However, unlike Hong Kong, there have been no mass protests against the authorities. Recently, political control in Macau has tightened, especially following protests in Hong Kong in 2019.

Additionally, there have been bans on commemorations of the victims of the violent crackdown on protests in Tiananmen Square in 1989, and some pro-democratic activists were not allowed to participate in elections.

Tags: China/Politics