US President Donald Trump has said he has personally urged Chinese President Xi Jinping to consider releasing imprisoned Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai, citing serious concerns over the 78-year-old’s health following his conviction under the city’s national security law.
On Monday, Hong Kong’s High Court found Lai guilty on three charges in a closely watched national security case, a verdict widely criticised by human rights organisations as a major setback for press freedom in the global financial hub.
Prosecutors alleged that Lai conspired to encourage foreign governments to take action against Hong Kong or mainland China, and that his media activities included publishing content that stirred opposition to Chinese authorities. Lai denied all charges but now faces a possible life sentence.
“I spoke to President Xi about it, and I asked him to consider his release,” Trump told reporters on Monday, without specifying when the conversation took place.“He’s an older man, and he’s not well. So I did put that request out. We’ll see what happens,” he added.
Trump last met Xi in October in South Korea, where he is believed to have raised Lai’s case directly with the Chinese leader. Following Trump’s remarks, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the conviction highlighted Beijing’s determination to suppress dissent.
“The verdict demonstrates China’s resolve to silence those who seek to defend freedom of speech and other fundamental rights,” Rubio said.
Lai is the founder of the now-closed pro-democracy tabloid Apple Daily and has been among the most high-profile figures prosecuted under Hong Kong’s national security law. According to Rubio, Lai’s health has “severely deteriorated” during more than 1,800 days in detention, prompting renewed calls for his release on humanitarian grounds.
The United Kingdom also condemned the conviction, describing it as a “politically motivated prosecution” and calling for Lai’s immediate freedom. Lai has been held since late 2020 and is a British citizen.
His son, Sebastien Lai, said London must intensify pressure on Beijing. “It’s time to put action behind words and make my father’s release a condition for closer relations with China,” he said at a press conference in London.
Lai’s daughter, Claire, said her father would step away from political activism if released. “He simply wants to reunite with his family, serve his faith, and spend the rest of his life with his loved ones,” she told the Associated Press in Washington.
“My father is fundamentally not a man who operates outside the law,” she added.
A devout Catholic, Lai has attracted support in the United States from a broad coalition of democracy advocates, press freedom organisations and Christian groups—many of whom form an important part of Trump’s political base. (Source: AlJazeera)
