US, UK urge release of Jimmy Lai as Beijing condemns overseas criticisms
發佈日期: 2025-12-16 20:33
TVB News
U.S. President Donald Trump said he feels badly for the jailing of 78-year-old media tycoon Jimmy Lai, who has been convicted of sedition and colluding with foreign forces in a national security trial.
Meanwhile, China's Foreign Ministry bristled at criticism from certain countries over the verdict, and condemned their blatant interference and smearing of Hong Kong's judiciary.
Donald Trump made a brief comment about the conviction of Jimmy Lai when asked by a journalist at the White House on Monday.
It's believed he referred to a meeting with President Xi Jinping back in October in which he brought Lai's case up.
(Reporter: Mr. President, sir, Jimmy Lai was convicted today in Hong Kong. Do you have any reactions?)
Trump said: "I feel so badly. I spoke to President Xi about it. And I asked to consider his release. 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, okay?"
Trump, who had vowed to do his utmost to "save" the Hong Kong publisher, stopped short of suggesting new actions to secure his release.
In a statement, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Hong Kong authorities to free Lai on humanitarian grounds.
The UK has made similar appeals, with foreign secretary Yvette Cooper telling parliament that Lai was targeted "for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression." She added the Chinese ambassador had been summoned to underline her country's position in the "strongest terms."
The European Union, Canada and Australia have also denounced the verdict.
In Beijing, the foreign ministry has described those overseas criticisms as "brazen defamation and smearing" of Hong Kong's judicial system.
A spokesperson for the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong said it is evident that Lai was a key planner and participant in a sinister plot to destabilise the SAR, and served as an "agent and pawn" of external anti-China forces.
The Chinese embassy in London strongly opposed and condemned Britain's response of what it regards as blatant interference in China's internal affairs. It said the move tramples on the rule of law and seriously violates the basic norms governing international relations.
