Former President Donald Trump stated Thursday that he will act to attempt to help Hong Kong media magnate Jimmy Lai, who has been held in custody under Beijing’s national security law more than four years. Trump admitted that his action may not be acceptable to Chinese President Xi Jinping but said that he would do everything within his means.
Trump Vows Action in Spite of Possible Tension with China
Appearing on Fox News Radio, Trump stated, “I’m going to do everything I can to save him … we’re going to do everything we can.” Trump said that Lai’s case might be included in wider negotiations with China, specifically trade and tariffs. Trump has long complained about human rights and political freedoms in Hong Kong, and this latest development emphasizes his ongoing interest in Lai’s case.
Lai’s Long Detention Under Hong Kong’s Security Law
Jimmy Lai, 77, has pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiring with foreign forces and publishing seditious material. He has been held in solitary confinement since December 2020, totaling more than 1,500 days. Chinese officials describe Lai as a “key orchestrator and participant in anti-China, destabilizing activities in Hong Kong.” Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for China’s embassy in Washington, emphasized Beijing’s opposition to foreign interference, saying, “We strongly oppose external forces using judicial cases as a pretext to interfere in China’s internal affairs or to smear and undermine Hong Kong’s rule of law.”
Trade Talks Could Provide a Platform for Lai’s Case
The move occurs in the midst of continuing U.S.-China trade talks. The two nations renewed a tariff truce earlier this week by extending it for another 90 days, preventing massive duties on each other’s products. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent affirmed that there will be additional meetings among trade officials in the next two to three months to negotiate the economic relationship’s future. Trump indicated that he could raise Lai’s detention as part of these broader talks, linking human rights concerns to trade diplomacy.
The case of Lai has attracted international attention, with many perceiving it as representative of the diminishing space for freedom of the press in Hong Kong. As the Chinese government justifies the charges as rightful exercise of national security, international observers still call for his release, perceiving it as a test of international diplomacy and dedication to human rights.
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