The conviction of Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai has sparked an international diplomatic firestorm, with President Donald Trump leading a bipartisan chorus of American voices demanding his release from Chinese custody.
A Direct Appeal to Beijing
Trump revealed Monday that he had personally asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to consider freeing Lai, the founder of the now-shuttered pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily. The president expressed genuine concern about Lai's condition, noting that "He's an older man, and he's not well." Trump first raised the issue during their October meeting in South Korea and has continued pressing the matter since.
Lai has now been imprisoned for over 1,800 days on national security charges that critics view as politically motivated. His conviction represents one of the highest-profile casualties of Beijing's crackdown on Hong Kong's once-vibrant press freedom and democratic activism.
US Officials Unite in Condemnation
Secretary of State Marco Rubio took to X on Monday to echo Trump's appeal, writing that he supports "President Trump's call for Beijing to conclude this ordeal and release Mr. Lai."
Former Vice President Mike Pence didn't mince words, calling the trial "unjust" and demanding Lai's immediate freedom. "The CCP arrested Jimmy Lai because he stood strong for democracy and freedom of the press against the empty promises the CCP made to Hong Kong," Pence wrote. "His conviction is an offense to freedom-loving people around the world."
John Bolton, who served as National Security Adviser during Trump's first term, went further, describing the conviction as "outrageous" and evidence that Beijing has abandoned its "one country, two systems" commitment to Hong Kong. "The lengths the CCP will go to silence dissent are sickening," Bolton said. "China has revealed yet again that it cannot be trusted in any significant commitment it may make."
Britain Joins the Pressure Campaign
Across the Atlantic, UK officials from both sides of the political aisle added their voices to the outcry. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper condemned Lai's prosecution and demanded his immediate release.
Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel put it bluntly: the 78-year-old was jailed "for standing up for freedom, democracy, and the rule of law." She called on the British government to do everything possible to secure his freedom, ending her statement with a simple demand: "Free Jimmy Lai."
The international pressure campaign reflects growing concern that China's crackdown on Hong Kong represents a broader threat to press freedom and democratic values in the region. Whether Beijing will respond to Trump's personal appeal to Xi remains to be seen.