Getty ImagesJimmy Lai, one of Hong Kong’s most influential pro-democracy figures, has testified for the first time in court in a national security trial that could see him sentenced to life in prison.
The 76-year-old founder of the now-defunct Hong Kong tabloid Apple Daily has been accused of colluding with foreign powers.
But Lai told the court on Wednesday that he had “never” used his foreign connections, including former US Vice President Mike Pence and former Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen, to exert influence. influence foreign policy toward Hong Kong.
Lai is currently serving a prison sentence for a series of charges related to his role in pro-democracy protests in 2019, which led to China imposing a sweeping national security law (NSL) in city.
His hearing took place a day later Sentenced 45 democracy campaigners – part of a group called Hong Kong 47.
Wearing a brown jacket and glasses, Lai smiled and waved to his family and the public as he entered the courtroom looking cheerful, although he appeared to have lost weight since his arrest. a few years ago.
Outside the court, dozens of people waited in line to show support for the media mogul.
A similar crowd gathered on Tuesday for the sentencing of the Hong Kong 47, which included some of the biggest names in Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement, such as Benny Tai and Joshua Wong.
Asked if he had tried to influence foreign policy in Hong Kong through his list of overseas contacts – including the likes of former Taiwan president Tsai and senior Chinese officials American or not – Lai answered “never”.
When asked about his meeting with US Vice President Mike Pence, Mr. Lai said he did not ask anything of him.
“I will only tell him what happened in Hong Kong when he asks me,” he told the court.
He was also asked about his meeting with then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and he said he asked Pompeo: “Not to do something, but to say something, Speak out in support of Hong Kong.”
Lai is one of hundreds of activists, lawmakers and protesters who have been detained under the NSL, which Beijing claims is necessary to quell unrest in Hong Kong that emerged in 2019.
During Wednesday’s daily press conference, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian criticized Lai, calling him “the main plotter and participant in the anti-China chaos in Hong Kong.”
Beijing considers Mr. Lai a traitor who seeks to sabotage China’s security. But critics say Mr Lai’s case is another example of Beijing’s tightening grip on the former British territory.
Apple Daily represents HK’s ‘core values’
Lai’s ongoing trial saw him plead not guilty to two charges of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and a third charge related to his Apple Daily tabloid, which has been accused of publishing seditious material against the government following the imposition of the national security law.
Lai argued that he opposed violence and “never allowed” his newspaper staff to campaign for Hong Kong independence, which he described as a “conspiracy” and “too crazy to think about”.
“The core values of Apple Daily are truly the core values of the people of Hong Kong,” he added.
These values, he said, include “the rule of law, freedom, the pursuit of democracy, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly.”
The tabloid, which ceased operations a year after Lai’s arrest, was known for his pro-democracy views.
In 2021, authorities froze Apple Daily’s bank accounts and arrested key employees, claiming that its articles violated the National Security Law.
The prosecution of Lai, who has British citizenship, has attracted international attention, with human rights groups and foreign governments calling for his release.
US President-elect Donald Trump said in a podcast in October that he would “100%” get Lai out of China.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who was is described Lai as a “priority” for his government, expressed concern about Lai’s “degradation” when meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping during the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro this week.
Lai’s family and legal team have expressed concerns about his health, pointing to his weight loss and increasing weakness in recent court appearances.
Lai was previously sentenced to prison on charges including illegal assembly and fraud, and has been held in solitary confinement since late 2020.
