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The children of jailed Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai made an urgent appeal Monday, suggesting that a potential visit by President Donald Trump to Beijing in April could be “crucial” to securing their 78-year-old father’s freedom on humanitarian grounds.
Their plea came hours after a Hong Kong court sentenced Lai to 20 years in prison following convictions under a Beijing-imposed national security law that has effectively silenced dissent in the once-autonomous city.
“The president has said multiple times that this is a case that he cares about,” Sebastien Lai told reporters, referring to Trump. “The April visit will obviously be crucial, and hopefully, my father will still be OK health-wise until that point.”
The younger Lai expressed grave concern about his father’s deteriorating physical condition after more than five years in detention. “This is a man who is, unfortunately, very close to dying. He’s a man who has gone through a tremendous amount. His body has deteriorated.”
The harsh sentence handed to the pro-democracy advocate and founder of the shuttered Apple Daily newspaper is expected to further strain already fragile U.S.-China relations. Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are anticipated to meet this year in an effort to stabilize ties amid ongoing tensions over tariffs, export restrictions, and U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.
While Trump has mentioned plans to visit Beijing in April, China has yet to confirm the meeting. The high-profile case has drawn significant international attention, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling the 20-year sentence “an unjust and tragic conclusion.”
Rubio urged Chinese authorities to grant Lai humanitarian parole, noting that Lai and his family “have suffered enough” after a lengthy legal battle that has already kept the elderly publisher behind bars for years.
Trump previously expressed sympathy for Lai’s situation following his conviction in December, saying he felt “so badly” and revealing that he had asked Xi to consider releasing the media mogul. Apple Daily was known for its critical reporting on the governments in both Hong Kong and Beijing before authorities forced its closure.
“We’re hopeful but we don’t know,” said Claire Lai regarding the possibility that Trump might successfully negotiate her father’s release during future diplomatic engagements.
Hong Kong officials have pushed back against international criticism of the sentence. Chris Tang, Hong Kong’s secretary for security, accused “external forces” of ignoring facts and making biased criticisms of court decisions. “We will refute baseless allegations and smearing resolutely by presenting the truth and facts for all to see,” Tang stated.
In a separate interview with The Associated Press in London, Sebastien Lai called on world leaders to maintain pressure on Beijing regarding his father’s case during diplomatic engagements with China or Xi.
“I could only pray that this pressure helps,” he said. “I think my father’s case is the litmus test to whatever engagement we have with China.”
The case has drawn attention from multiple world leaders. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government confirmed he directly raised Jimmy Lai’s situation with Xi during a visit to China last month. UK officials stated they will “rapidly engage further” following Monday’s sentencing, though specific actions remain unclear.
Sebastien Lai expressed gratitude for Trump’s previous comments about seeking his father’s freedom, saying the remarks have “given my family a lot of hope.”
The severity of the sentence—which would require Lai to serve time until he is nearly 100 years old—underscores the family’s urgent humanitarian concerns.
“It’s a 20-year sentence, which is comically large, given that my father’s 78,” Sebastien Lai noted. “But in the conditions he’s been kept in… he might die before then.”
The case continues to serve as a focal point in discussions about Hong Kong’s diminishing freedoms since Beijing’s implementation of the national security law in 2020, following widespread pro-democracy protests in the region.
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5 Comments
The imprisonment of Jimmy Lai is a concerning development that highlights the erosion of press freedoms in Hong Kong. I hope the international community can find ways to secure his release on humanitarian grounds, given his advanced age and deteriorating health.
While I understand the desire to see Lai freed, I’m not sure how much influence a Trump visit to Beijing would have. The Chinese government has shown little willingness to compromise on issues of national security and sovereignty. A diplomatic solution may be more effective, though the timeline is worrying.
This case underscores the complex geopolitical tensions between the US and China. While I sympathize with Lai’s family, I’m not sure how effective external pressure will be given China’s stance on sovereignty. A negotiated solution may be the best path forward, though the timeline is worrying.
This is a concerning case, as the imprisonment of Jimmy Lai seems to be a clear violation of freedom of the press. His children’s plea for help from world leaders like Trump is understandable, given his deteriorating health and the harsh sentence he received.
The imprisonment of Jimmy Lai is a troubling development that highlights the erosion of democratic freedoms in Hong Kong. I hope the international community can find ways to pressure China to release him on humanitarian grounds, given his advanced age and poor health.