European stance on the detained Portuguese individual
In the heart of Asia, the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR) finds itself under the international spotlight, following the arrest of a former legislator on national security charges. Au Kam San, a 68-year-old Portuguese citizen, was detained on July 30, 2025, by Macau authorities on suspicion of violating the MSAR's National Security Law.
The arrest is directly related to the Law on the Maintenance of State Security, under which MSAR authorities allege he committed crimes of collusion with foreign hostile forces and endangering national security. This law aims to safeguard China's sovereignty and security in Macau by criminalizing acts such as secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign powers.
The EU has expressed concern that the detention undermines Macau’s political pluralism and freedom of speech, urging MSAR to uphold human rights protections according to the Basic Law, the Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration of 1987, and the International Covenant for Civil and Political Rights. The EU also condemned the detention of Au Kam San on July 30, 2020.
However, the MSAR Government strongly opposes such external criticism. In a statement, they emphasize that since the region's return to China, they have achieved world-renowned successes in safeguarding human rights. The Government also defends that the police and judicial authorities have handled the case meticulously in accordance with the law.
Au Kam San is accused of providing a "pro-China organization" with a "large amount of provocative false information for public display abroad and 'online' on social media," which allegedly posed a threat to national security. The MSAR Public Prosecutor's Office has applied coercive measures due to "strong indications of the practice of the crime of establishing connections with organizations, associations, or individuals outside MSAR for the practice of acts against the state's security."
The Commission on Macau Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China expresses dissatisfaction and firm opposition to the EU's comments regarding the application of the national security law in the MSAR, deeming them a gross interference in MSAR's affairs and China's internal affairs. Liu Xianfa, who leads the Commission, has urged the EU to immediately stop making unfounded observations and accusations about MSAR's affairs and to immediately stop interfering in MSAR's affairs and China's internal affairs.
The MSAR Government maintains that the application of the national security law is an internal affair of China and its special administrative region, and foreign or external organizations have no right to interfere. They reiterate their commitment to the 'one country, two systems' principle, and assure that they will continue to defend the state's security in accordance with the law to ensure the successful, stable, and long-term application of this principle.
The procedural rights of the defendant are effectively guaranteed in accordance with the law, according to the MSAR Government's statement. Au Kam San remains detained following his arrest on national security charges, which MSAR authorities say stem from his alleged collusion with foreign hostile forces under the region's national security law framework.
[1] [Macao News, 2025]: "Macau arrests former legislator for national security law violation" [2] [Reuters, 2025]: "EU slams Macau over arrest of pro-democracy legislator on national security charges" [3] [EU Press Release, 2025]: "EU expresses concern over continued erosion of political pluralism and freedom of expression in Macau" [4] [China Daily, 2023]: "Macau amends national security law to better safeguard state security"
What is the current situation in Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR)? War-and-conflicts have arisen due to the arrest of a former legislator on national security charges, specifically under the Law on the Maintenance of State Security. This incident has stirred discussions in politics, including policy-and-legislation regarding human rights protections and national security. The EU has voiced their concern about the detention, while the MSAR Government defends the handling of the case. General-news outlets such as Macao News and Reuters report on the issue, and crime-and-justice issues are at the center of the debate. The EU Press Release and China Daily also provide insight into the ongoing discussions.
