Former Hong Kong publisher Jimmy Lai testified in court that he met with Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during Hong Kong’s anti-government protests in 2019, but denied asking them to take action. Lai, the founder of Apple Daily pro-democracy newspaper, is facing charges of colluding with foreign forces and issuing seditious publications, with a potential life sentence if convicted under Beijing’s national security law. However, Lai stressed that he never attempted to influence foreign policy through his overseas connections.
Lai’s case is viewed as a test of press freedom and judicial independence in Hong Kong. Prosecutors allege that Lai sought U.S. support in sanctioning Chinese and Hong Kong leaders during the 2019 protests, while Lai himself emphasized that he merely wanted to provide insights into U.S. thinking for Taiwan’s former President Tsai Ing-wen. Lai also rejected the idea of Hong Kong independence and highlighted the core values of freedom and democracy.
Amid international calls for Lai’s release, including from the U.S. and U.K. governments, his son described his treatment in prison as inhumane. The Hong Kong government pushed back against criticisms, stating that Lai’s separation from other inmates was at his request. As Lai’s trial unfolds, his interactions with U.S. officials and commitment to democratic ideals remain central to the debate over press freedom and national security in Hong Kong.
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