Trump urges Xi to free Hong Kong's Jimmy Lai

[ad_1] US President Donald Trump says he has requested Chinese language chief Xi Jinping to "take into account" releasing Jimmy Lai, the Hong Kong pro-democracy tycoon who was earlier this week discovered responsible underneath the town's controversial nationwide safety regulation.

"I really feel so badly," Trump informed reporters. "I spoke to President Xi about it and I requested to think about his launch."

The UK equally known as for the 78-year-old to be "instantly launched", with UK Overseas Secretary Yvette Cooper condemning the ruling, calling it a "politically motivated persecution".

Lai, who's a British citizen, has been in jail since December 2020 and is because of be sentenced early subsequent 12 months. He faces a most time period of life in jail.

Trump made the transient remark to reporters on the White Home on Monday - however didn't specify when he had introduced Lai's case as much as Xi.

"He is an older man and he isn't effectively. So I did put that request out. We'll see what occurs, okay?," he stated.

His feedback come after a Hong Kong courtroom on Monday discovered Lai responsible of colluding with overseas forces.

The decision was welcomed by Hong Kong's chief government John Lee, who stated that Lai's actions had "broken the nation's pursuits and the welfare of Hong Kongers", however rights teams known as it "a merciless judicial farce".

"He has been focused by the Chinese language and Hong Kong governments for peacefully exercising his proper to freedom of expression," UK Overseas Secretary Yvette Cooper had informed Parliament on Monday, calling for Lai's "fast launch".

She added that the Overseas Workplace has summoned the Chinese language Ambassador to "underline our place within the strongest phrases", including that it was "heartbreaking that such a violation of a British man's rights might happen in Hong Kong".

China's overseas 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 on Monday convicted underneath the town's controversial nationwide safety regulation - which rights teams say is used to crush dissent, however which Beijing defends as important for the town's stability.

He was additionally convicted of publishing seditious materials on Apple Day by day underneath a separate colonial-era regulation.

His detention and conviction have drawn concern from rights teams and overseas leaders, who've lengthy known as for his launch.

His kids have voiced critical issues about Lai's deteriorating well being in jail, with Sebastien telling the BBC earlier this 12 months that given his father's age and well being, he might "die in jail".