• Nathan Law denied entry to Singapore despite holding a valid visa.
• Singapore's government cites national interests in the decision.
• Law claims political motivations may have influenced the denial.
• The activist has been living in exile since fleeing Hong Kong in 2020.
• Hong Kong police issued warrants for Law under their National Security Law.

Nathan Law, a prominent pro-democracy activist and former lawmaker from Hong Kong, was denied entry to Singapore upon arrival at Changi Airport from San Francisco, despite holding a valid visa. He was detained for approximately four hours before being informed he could not enter the country, as his presence was deemed "not in Singapore's national interests" by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which also referred to Law's ongoing legal troubles resulting from a warrant issued under Hong Kong’s National Security Law, according to BBC and Channel News Asia.

The activist had traveled to Singapore to attend a "closed-door, invitation-only" conference, but ultimately was placed on the earliest flight back to San Francisco after approximately 14 hours in the city-state. Law stated, "I think the decision to deny my entry was political," suggesting that external factors like the People's Republic of China (PRC) might have influenced the ruling, as reported by Al Jazeera and NPR.

Singapore has an extradition agreement with Hong Kong, which could complicate matters for Law, whose case reflects broader tensions concerning political dissent in Hong Kong since the imposition of the National Security Law in 2020. The MHA emphasizes that a visa does not guarantee entry, specifically stating that all travelers are subject to further immigration checks, according to South China Morning Post and BBC.

Law's activism and criticism of Beijing have made him a target; in July 2023, Hong Kong police placed bounties on him and other activists. Despite fleeing to the UK, he continues to advocate for political rights and the restoration of democracy in Hong Kong, positioning himself against the intensified crackdown on dissent within the city, as noted by NPR and Channel News Asia.