Trump Reports Xi Deemed Jimmy Lai’s Release Unlikely After Beijing Summit
Following a high-stakes summit in Beijing, US President Donald Trump stated that Chinese President Xi Jinping indicated the release of imprisoned Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai is unlikely. While Xi expressed willingness to consider freeing detained pastor Jin Mingri, he described Lai’s case as particularly difficult due to its political sensitivity under Hong Kong’s national security law. This exchange underscores ongoing diplomatic tensions and human rights concerns between the US and China, highlighting the limits of bilateral negotiations on sensitive judicial matters in the region.
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Trump Reveals Xi's Negative Response to Request for Jimmy Lai's Release
Former US President Donald Trump revealed that Chinese President Xi Jinping responded negatively to his inquiry regarding the release of imprisoned Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai. During discussions, Trump raised concerns about Lai's deteriorating health and age, requesting his freedom. However, Xi reportedly described the situation as his worst nightmare, indicating a firm refusal. Lai is currently serving a 20-year sentence for sedition and collusion with foreign forces, charges linked to his pro-democracy activism. Despite this setback, Trump highlighted his administration's success in securing the release of hundreds of other prisoners without significant financial payments, contrasting his approach with that of the Biden administration. The dialogue between the two leaders also covered broader geopolitical tensions, including warnings from Xi about potential conflicts over Taiwan. Conversely, Xi offered collaboration on brokering a deal with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Trump maintained a positive outlook on future US-China relations, praising Xi as a great leader before returning to Washington.
New York PostTrump Expresses Pessimism Over Jimmy Lai's Release After Talks with Xi Jinping
US President Donald Trump has expressed little optimism regarding the release of imprisoned Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai following high-level summit talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. Although Trump raised Lai's case during the discussions, Xi reportedly characterized the situation as a "tough one," leading Trump to describe the response as negative. Lai, a 78-year-old British citizen and founder of Apple Daily, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in February 2026 under Beijing's national security law for charges including foreign collusion. His family had hoped the US president could secure his freedom, citing Lai's deteriorating health, including significant weight loss and issues stemming from solitary confinement in high temperatures. While Trump indicated more hope for the release of a detained church pastor, he remained doubtful about Lai's prospects. Despite this, Lai's daughter, Claire, thanked Trump for his efforts and expressed confidence that his administration would eventually secure her father's release, urging Xi to take the "just and honourable" path. The case continues to draw international attention, particularly in the UK, regarding democratic commitments made during Hong Kong's 1997 handover.
The GuardianTrump Says Xi Indicated Jimmy Lai Release Unlikely After Beijing Summit
US President Donald Trump stated that Chinese President Xi Jinping suggested the release of imprisoned Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai is unlikely. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One following a high-stakes summit in Beijing, Trump noted that while Xi would strongly consider releasing Jin Mingri, an underground church pastor detained in October, freeing Lai remained a difficult issue for the Chinese leader. Lai, the 78-year-old founder of the defunct Apple Daily, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in December for foreign collusion and sedition under Hong Kong's national security law. This sentence marked the harshest penalty issued under the legislation, drawing international condemnation. Experts indicate that while Lai's case was not a primary focus of the summit, raising it highlights continued US attention to political prisoners in China. The Communist Party of China maintains a rigid stance on regime security, making compromises on Lai's imprisonment improbable despite diplomatic pressure. The distinction made by Xi between Lai and Jin suggests varying levels of political sensitivity regarding different detainees within China's judicial system.
Hong Kong Free Press HKFPTrump Says Xi Indicated Jimmy Lai Release Unlikely After Beijing Summit
US President Donald Trump stated that Chinese President Xi Jinping suggested the release of imprisoned Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai is unlikely. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One following a high-stakes summit in Beijing, Trump revealed that while Xi agreed to strongly consider freeing Jin Mingri, an underground church pastor, he described Lai's case as a tough issue to resolve. Jimmy Lai, the 78-year-old founder of the defunct Apple Daily, was previously sentenced to 20 years in prison for foreign collusion and sedition under Hong Kong's national security law. This sentence marked the harshest penalty issued under the legislation, drawing international condemnation. Experts note that while Lai's release was not a priority for Beijing, raising the issue maintains international pressure on China regarding political prisoners. The distinction made by Xi highlights the Chinese Communist Party's rigid stance on regime security concerns associated with Lai, contrasting with potential flexibility regarding religious detainees like Jin, who was arrested for illegal use of information networks.
Hong Kong Free Press HKFPTrump Expresses Pessimism on Jimmy Lai's Release After Talks with Xi
US President Donald Trump stated he is not optimistic about the release of Jimmy Lai, the former Hong Kong media mogul sentenced to 20 years in prison for violating China's national security law. This assessment follows a high-level summit in Beijing where Trump raised the issue directly with Chinese President Xi Jinping. According to Trump, Xi indicated that releasing Lai would be difficult, citing the significant challenges both sides have endured regarding the case. On Air Force One, Trump relayed Xi's sentiment that the situation was complex regardless of moral judgments. In response to inquiries about human rights discussions, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun reaffirmed Beijing's stance, labeling Lai a key instigator of anti-China activities. Guo emphasized that Hong Kong affairs are strictly internal matters and that the central government firmly supports the local judiciary's lawful actions. The exchange highlights the ongoing diplomatic tensions between the US and China concerning legal proceedings in Hong Kong and the limits of bilateral negotiations on such sensitive domestic issues.
News - South China Morning PostTrump Says Freeing Jailed Hong Kong Activist Jimmy Lai Is 'Tough'
Former US President Donald Trump has commented on the status of Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai, stating that securing his release from Chinese custody would be a difficult endeavor. Lai is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence in China on charges related to national security and collusion with foreign forces, a case that has drawn significant international criticism and attention from human rights organizations. Trump's remark underscores the complex diplomatic challenges involved in negotiating the freedom of high-profile political prisoners held by Beijing. The statement highlights the ongoing tensions between the United States and China regarding human rights issues and the autonomy of Hong Kong. While Trump did not elaborate on specific strategies or diplomatic efforts, his characterization of the situation as "tough" reflects the broader geopolitical reality where individual cases are often intertwined with larger strategic competitions. This development adds to the continuing discourse on how Western leaders approach engagements with China concerning detained activists and the rule of law in the region.
The Latest News from the UK and Around the World | Sky NewsTrump: Chinese Leader Called Jimmy Lai's Release 'A Tough One'
During his recent visit to Beijing, US President Donald Trump discussed the imprisonment of Hong Kong democracy campaigner Jimmy Lai with Chinese President Xi Jinping. According to Trump, who spoke to reporters on Air Force One upon his return, Xi characterized Lai's potential release as "a tough one," indicating significant resistance from the Chinese leadership. This outcome disappointed Lai's family and supporters, who had hoped the US president's diplomatic engagement would secure the freedom of the 78-year-old British citizen. Lai was previously sentenced to 20 years in prison under Beijing's national security law following his arrest in 2020. While Trump expressed some optimism regarding the potential release of a detained church pastor, he remained less hopeful about Lai's situation. Lai's daughter, Claire, publicly thanked Trump for his efforts, urging Xi to take the "just and honourable" path. The case continues to draw international scrutiny, particularly in the UK, where it is viewed through the lens of democratic commitments made during the 1997 handover of Hong Kong.
The StandardTrump Says China May Release Detained Pastor but Jimmy Lai Case Remains Difficult
U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Chinese President Xi Jinping is seriously considering the release of a detained pastor in China, specifically identifying Zion Church founder Jin Mingri. However, Trump indicated that the case of imprisoned Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai presents a more complex challenge, quoting Xi as describing it as a "tough one." Lai, the founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in February for conspiring to collude with foreign forces and publishing seditious materials. His imprisonment has drawn significant international criticism regarding the enforcement of Hong Kong's national security law. In contrast, the detention of Pastor Jin Mingri and nearly 30 others occurred in November following new regulations banning unauthorized online preaching and religious training. Trump made these remarks to reporters aboard Air Force One while returning to the United States from a visit to China, highlighting the ongoing diplomatic tensions and human rights concerns surrounding judicial cases in both mainland China and Hong Kong.
News Today: Breaking News, Top Headlines & Live Updates | The HinduTrump Says Xi Signaled Release of Hong Kong Media Mogul Jimmy Lai Unlikely
US President Donald Trump stated that Chinese President Xi Jinping indicated the release of imprisoned Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai is unlikely during their recent high-stakes summit. Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump revealed he raised the issue of political prisoners, noting that Xi described Lai’s case as particularly difficult to resolve. Lai, the 78-year-old founder of the defunct Apple Daily newspaper, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in December for foreign collusion and seditious publication under Hong Kong's national security law. This sentence represents the harshest penalty issued under the legislation so far and has drawn international condemnation. In contrast to Lai's situation, Trump mentioned that Xi promised to strongly consider the case of Jin Mingri, an underground church pastor detained in October. The article highlights the diplomatic tensions surrounding human rights issues amidst broader trade negotiations between the US and China.
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