WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� The , a pro-democracy former Hong Kong media mogul and China critic, said Monday that a possible visit by President Donald could be 鈥渃rucial鈥� in securing the release of their 78-year-old father.
Lai’s son and daughter pleaded for their father’s freedom on humanitarian grounds after a Hong Kong court on Monday following convictions under a Beijing-imposed national security law that has virtually silenced the city鈥檚 dissent.
鈥淭he president has said multiple times that this is a case that he cares about,鈥� Sebastien Lai said about Trump during a call with reporters. 鈥淲e are in a situation where the April visit will be, more obviously, be crucial, and, hopefully, my father will still be OK health-wise until that point.鈥�
Speaking of his father, the younger Lai said 鈥渢his is a man who is, unfortunately, is very close to dying. He鈥檚 a man who has gone through a tremendous amount. His body has deteriorated.鈥�
The ruling in Hong Kong is certain to add friction to , with Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping expected to meet this year to keep ties stabilized over thorny issues like tariffs, export restrictions and a self-governed island that Beijing claims is Chinese territory.
While Trump has said several times he will be visiting Beijing this April, China has yet to confirm it.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the decision to sentence Lai to 20 years 鈥渁n unjust and tragic conclusion to this case.鈥� In a statement, Rubio urged Chinese authorities to grant Lai humanitarian parole, noting that Lai and his family 鈥渉ave suffered enough鈥� after a trial lasting two years and his detention for more than five years.
After Lai was convicted in December, Trump said he felt 鈥渟o badly鈥� and that he had asked Xi to consider releasing Lai, who is the founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, which was known for its critical reports about the governments in Hong Kong and Beijing.
鈥淲e鈥檙e hopeful but we don鈥檛 know,鈥� his daughter Claire Lai said of the prospects that Trump would successfully negotiate for her father鈥檚 release.
Chris Tang, Hong Kong鈥檚 secretary for security, accused 鈥渆xternal forces鈥� of ignoring the facts and making biased criticisms of court decisions. 鈥淲e will refute baseless allegations and smearing resolutely by presenting the truth and facts for all to see,鈥� Tang said.
In an interview with The Associated Press in London, Sebastien Lai said it’s time for when they visit China or meet with Xi by bringing up his father’s case.
鈥淚 could only pray that this pressure helps,” the younger Lai said. 鈥淚 think my father鈥檚 case is the litmus test to whatever engagement we have with China.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer鈥檚 government said he directly raised Jimmy Lai鈥檚 case with Xi during last month. U.K. officials said they will 鈥渞apidly engage further鈥� after Monday鈥檚 sentencing, but it wasn鈥檛 clear what that entailed.
Sebastien Lai said he is 鈥渋ncredibly grateful鈥� for Trump’s past remarks about freeing his father, which have “given my family a lot of hope.鈥�
Now, it’s about saving his father’s life, the son said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a 20-year sentence, which is comically large, given that my father鈥檚 78. At that point in 20 years, he鈥檒l be 100 almost,” he said. “But in the conditions he鈥檚 been kept in … he might die before then.鈥�
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Hui reported from London.
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