Rubio Condemns China for 20-Year Sentence of Hong Kong Democracy Activist Jimmy Lai

U.S. Calls for Release of Hong Kong Publisher Jimmy Lai After 20-Year Sentence

The United States has urged China to reverse what Secretary of State Marco Rubio described as an “unjust and tragic” 20-year prison sentence handed to Hong Kong democracy activist and publisher Jimmy Lai. The 78-year-old media mogul was sentenced Monday under Beijing’s national security law, in what many consider the most significant case since the legislation was imposed in 2020.

“The conviction shows the world that Beijing will go to extraordinary lengths to silence those who advocate fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong,” Rubio said in a statement. “The United States urges the authorities to grant Mr. Lai humanitarian parole.”

Lai, the billionaire founder of Apple Daily newspaper, was once a towering figure in Hong Kong’s pro-democracy media landscape. His publication, established in 1995 and now shuttered, was known as the territory’s most outspoken pro-democracy voice until authorities forced its closure.

The Hong Kong court convicted Lai on two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces under the national security law. He was also found guilty of conspiracy to publish seditious materials under a separate colonial-era law. Prosecutors characterized him as the “mastermind” behind efforts to allegedly lobby foreign governments for sanctions against China and Hong Kong.

Lai’s defense team argued that the case criminalized legitimate political speech and journalism rather than addressing genuine security threats. They maintained that his meetings with U.S. officials and media appearances represented normal activities for a publisher and democracy advocate.

The sentencing comes amid broader tensions in U.S.-China relations, placing renewed pressure on President Donald Trump, who is expected to travel to Beijing in April. Human rights advocates and lawmakers have urged Trump to raise Lai’s case directly with Chinese President Xi Jinping during upcoming negotiations.

Trump previously stated in December 2025 that he had personally asked Xi to consider Lai’s release, citing concerns about the publisher’s health and age. “I spoke to President Xi about it, and I asked to consider his release,” Trump said. “He’s not well, he’s an older man, and he’s not well, so I did put that request out. We’ll see what happens.”

Sebastian Lai, the publisher’s son, expressed grave concerns about his father’s condition, describing the sentence as effectively “a life term” or “more like a death sentence” given his father’s age and deteriorating health. He revealed that his father has lost significant weight in detention and now suffers from heart issues and diabetes.

“We’re incredibly worried about his life,” Sebastian Lai told Fox on Monday. He added that his father, a devout Catholic, maintains his faith despite years of detention and believes “no matter how hard the conditions he was under, that he still did the right thing.” The younger Lai also noted that his father had declined multiple opportunities to leave Hong Kong before his arrest, choosing to stay rather than abandon his principles or colleagues.

The crackdown on Lai comes in the wake of sweeping changes to Hong Kong’s legal and political landscape following months of anti-government protests in 2019. Beijing imposed the national security law in 2020, which critics say has systematically dismantled the territory’s promised autonomy under the “one country, two systems” framework.

Sebastian Lai warned that his father’s case should serve as a cautionary tale for Taiwan, suggesting that Beijing’s treatment of Hong Kong reveals the limitations of China’s promises of autonomy.

Jimmy Lai has already spent more than five years in prison, serving a separate sentence for a fraud conviction and for organizing unauthorized assemblies during the 2019 protests. His case has become a symbol of Beijing’s tightening grip on Hong Kong and its determination to silence prominent voices of dissent.