Trump urges Xi to show leniency for Jimmy Lai as Britain summons China’s ambassador
US president says he asked Chinese leader to consider freeing Lai, describing the jailed media executive as ‘an older man’ who is ‘not well’
“I feel so badly. I spoke to President Xi about it, and I asked to consider his release,” Trump told reporters, without specifying exactly when he spoke with Xi. “He is an older man, and he is not well. So I did put that request out. We’ll see what happens.”
London and Washington have watched the case closely.
In an address to Parliament, Britain’s top envoy said her government expressed its displeasure at the conviction to the Chinese embassy in London.
“On my instruction, the Foreign Office has today summoned the Chinese ambassador to underline our position in the strongest terms,” Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper told the UK legislature.
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Hong Kong’s Jimmy Lai found guilty on all charges in national security trial
Lai, age 78, who has been held in custody since December 2020, faces a minimum jail sentence of 10 years and up to life imprisonment in the event the court finds that his culpability matches that of a “principal offender” under the Beijing-decreed statute.