Given his own experiences with illegal activities, President Donald Trump should advocate for the immediate release of political prisoner Jimmy Lai from Chinese authorities.
Recently, 54 organizations rallied behind the Hong Kong Freedom Caucus Foundation, urging both Congress and Mr. Trump to take decisive action to compel Hong Kong and the Communist Party of China to liberate Mr. Lai.
The urgency is real. At 78, Lai’s declining health puts him at risk of dying in prison unless he is granted asylum.
Supporting this democratic activist ahead of his next court hearing on January 12th is not only a moral obligation, but it also sends a message to Chinese leaders that the United States cannot ignore abuses against those who seek friendship and promote Western ideals.
Consider this: Lai’s communications with American leaders, including members of Congress, were key evidence in the dubious charges of “foreign collusion” that led to his conviction.
Essentially, Hong Kong’s corrupt judicial system targeted him for his relentless defense of democracy and free speech through his newspaper, Apple Daily.
When Congress reconvenes, it should pass two crucial pieces of legislation: first, to tighten measures against Hong Kong for facilitating sanctions evasion by adversaries, and second, to reassess and possibly revoke trade privileges that were established in the 1990s, which are now misused by the Chinese Communist Party to suppress freedom.
President Trump could take additional steps by sanctioning the Chinese and Hong Kong officials responsible for Lai’s targeting, including the prosecutor behind the false accusations and the three judges from the Communist Party who convicted him.
He can also maintain pressure for Lai’s release during negotiations with China, making it clear that this imprisonment is an unacceptable injustice.
While the Chinese government and Hong Kong might hope that this matter fades from Western attention, it represents a violation of fundamental American values and strikes personally at Trump. Remember, Lai’s so-called offenses included social media posts mentioning the president.
The overarching point is that championing Jimmy Lai’s cause transcends his individual situation. It signals that America refuses to stand by while freedom fighters are wronged.
