As soon as Hong Kong’s media Tycoon Jimmy Lai convicted of national security offenses and sentenced to jail after he found guilty under the controversial NSL issue, U.S. President Donald Trump urged Chinese leader Xi Jinping to consider releasing pro-democratic activist Lai.
Trump expressed in a statement saying,” I feel so badly-I spoke to President Xi about it and I asked to consider his release.”
Similarly, the UK also appealed for immediate release of Jimmy Lai with UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper condemning the ruling, calling it a “politically motivated persecution.”
Lai, who is a British citizen, has been in jail since December 2020 and is due to be sentenced early next year. He faces a maximum term of life in prison.
“He’s an older man and he’s not well. So, I did put that request out. We’ll see what happens, okay?” Trump made brief comments to reporters on Monday December 15,2025.
As reported by BBC, his comments come after a Hong Kong court on Monday found Lai guilty of colluding with foreign forces.
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper also told Parliament on Monday, calling for Lai’s “immediate release”.
She said, “Lai has been targeted by the Chinese and Hong Kong governments for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression.”
She added that the Foreign Office has summoned the Chinese Ambassador to “underline our position in the strongest terms”, adding that it was “heartbreaking that such a violation of a British man’s rights could occur in Hong Kong.”
With reference to that China’s foreign ministry had earlier on Monday dismissed criticisms of Lai’s trial, describing them as “brazen defamation and smearing of the judicial system in Hong Kong.”
Lai was convicted on Monday December 15,2025 under the city’s controversial national security law, which rights groups say is used to crush dissent, but which Beijing defends as essential for the city’s stability.
Additionally, the verdict was also welcomed by Hong Kong’s chief executive John Lee, who said that Lai’s actions had “damaged the country’s interests and the welfare of Hong Kongers,” while rights groups called it “a cruel judicial farce.”
