Jimmy Lai, a septuagenarian democracy advocate, faces the possibility of life imprisonment under the national security law imposed by Beijing. Lai is accused of conspiring with foreign forces to impose sanctions on Hong Kong and Chinese officials, charges he denies. A potential conviction could increase tensions between China and the United States, putting the territory at risk of retaliation.
Negotiations between both parties will begin this weekend in Switzerland, where a Chinese delegation led by Vice Premier He Lifeng will meet with the U.S. Treasury Secretary and the trade representative. A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated that Hong Kong's matters are internal and should not allow foreign interference, and that China firmly opposes any attempts to interfere in its internal affairs through legal cases.
For his part, Donald Trump has expressed support for Jimmy Lai's release, mentioning the possibility of including his case in trade talks with China. However, the chances of an agreement for Lai's release seem complicated, according to Hong Kong legislator Regina Ip, who noted that the case has lost relevance compared to more pressing issues.
Hong Kong judges will issue a verdict on Jimmy Lai’s national security case in the coming months, and this may be part of the negotiations between the United States and China, who have been involved in a tariff dispute since the Trump administration. Jimmy Lai, founder of the pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, finds himself in a delicate situation amid international tensions and controversies with China.
