Reaction to Jimmy Lai’s Sentencing

Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed his deep concern regarding the 20-year prison sentence handed down to Jimmy Lai, a British-born activist known for his anti-China stances. In a statement issued on Monday, Rubio described the sentence as “unjust and tragic.”

Rubio emphasized that China has indicated it will take “extraordinary measures” to limit freedoms in Hong Kong. He called for Lai to be granted parole based on humanitarian grounds. Lai’s lengthy trial, which spanned more than two years, concluded with the severe sentence. The case has drawn international attention, reflecting the ongoing tensions surrounding freedom in Hong Kong.

“This verdict from the Hong Kong High Court marks an unfortunate resolution to this matter,” Rubio noted. “It highlights the extent to which the Chinese government will go to silence advocates for the fundamental freedoms that Hong Kong residents deserve, sidelining commitments made in the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration.”

The 1984 treaty, as referenced by Rubio, was established between the UK and China, assuring that Hong Kong citizens would retain press freedoms in the region. Following a prolonged trial and over five years of incarceration, Rubio mentioned that Lai and his family have “suffered enough.” His statement urged authorities to consider granting Lai humanitarian parole.

Rubio has previously criticized Lai’s conviction, asserting that his health has deteriorated significantly during his time in prison, which has lasted more than 1,800 days. In a related comment, Michigan Republican Rep. John Moolenaar, who chairs the House Select Committee on China, described Lai’s conviction as a “latest stain” on the human rights record of the Chinese Communist Party.

Lai was first arrested in 2020, facing charges of “collusion with a foreign country or external force threatening national security” under China’s controversial National Security Law, as noted by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.