China’s foreign ministry reaffirmed firm support for Hong Kong’s judiciary and rejected calls to free Jimmy Lai before Donald Trump’s state visit.
China’s foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun made the remarks at a press briefing one day before US President Donald Trump begins a three-day state visit.
Guo described Jimmy Lai as “the principal mastermind and perpetrator behind the riots that shook Hong Kong”. He stressed that Hong Kong affairs are China’s internal affairs and that the central government firmly supports Hong Kong judicial authorities in performing their duties according to law.
Lai, 78, founded the now-defunct Apple Daily. He is serving a 20-year sentence after conviction on national security charges including conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and to print and distribute seditious publications.
Trump’s trip, at the invitation of President Xi Jinping, marks the first US presidential visit to China since 2017 and takes place amid a US-Iran ceasefire.
