World Reacts to Jimmy Lai Trial Verdict

TaiwanPlus News

Global reaction is growing after Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai was found guilty of sedition and foreign collusion. US President Donald Trump, the UK government and the EU have called for his release, citing humanitarian concerns and declining freedoms in Hong Kong. China has rejected the criticism, defending the verdict as lawful, while Lai’s family warns his health is rapidly deteriorating as he faces a potential life sentence.

Transcript

00:00The case of Jimmy Lai, found guilty of sedition and foreign collusion in Hong Kong,

00:05has drawn attention from Western leaders.

00:07U.S. President Donald Trump said he has asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to consider his release.

00:14I feel so badly. I spoke to President Xi about it, and I asked to consider his release.

00:23He'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.

00:32While Washington's urging authorities to end the case and release Lai on humanitarian grounds,

00:37the U.K. has also called for his release as a British citizen.

00:41I call again for Jimmy Lai's immediate release.

00:46On my instruction, the Foreign Office has today summoned the Chinese ambassador

00:50to underline our position in the strongest terms.

00:54With the U.K. criticizing the case as a politically motivated prosecution,

00:59the U.K. has also called for the former media tycoon's release,

01:02describing the case as a reflection of eroding freedoms in Hong Kong.

01:07China has pushed back both diplomatically and publicly,

01:10including summoning U.K.'s officials and responding openly to the verdict.

01:13As governments weigh in, Lai's family expressed consent for their aged father's health

01:27as he faces a potential life sentence.

01:30When my father went to prison, he was a 72-year-old, not young, but in relatively good health.

01:37And from all the reports that I've received, his health has deteriorated massively.

01:42My father is a 78-year-old man in family health.

01:46I mean, this would be the humanitarian and the right and the honorable thing for China to do.

01:54Amid these worries from Lai's family and foreign leaders,

01:57the trial and conviction highlight just how much Hong Kong's legal and judicial landscape has changed

02:02since the passage of the national security law,

02:05and just how many freedoms may have been lost.

02:08Joseph Wu and I.T. for Taiwan Plus.

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