HONG KONG: In his historic national security trial, Hong Kong democrat and media magnate Jimmy Lait testified for the first time on Wednesday that he had never attempted to sway the foreign policy of nations like the United States regarding China and Hong Kong.
Under a broad national security law enforced by China, the arrest of Lai, 76, a British and Hong Kong national and the founder of the now-defunct pro-democracy daily Apple Daily, is regarded as one of the most well-known.
His testimony was given the day after, in a different national security case, Hong Kong imprisoned forty-five pro-democracy activists for a maximum of ten years.
Lai has entered a not guilty plea to two allegations, one of which is conspiracy to disseminate seditious information and the other of conspiracy to coordinate with foreign forces.
It was claimed throughout the trial that Lai and others had asked a foreign organization or nation, primarily the United States, to impose sanctions or blockade the governments of Hong Kong and China, or to take part in other hostile actions.
Meetings with then-Vice President Mike Pence and then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeoto in July 2019 to discuss the political situation in Hong Kong as widespread pro-democracy and anti-China demonstrations grew more intense are one instance of Lai’s alleged cooperation.
On Wednesday, Lai denied specifically questioning Pence in court while under oath.
The vice president is not someone I would dare ask to do anything. When he inquired, I would just tell him what had transpired in Hong Kong, Lai told the court.
Lai said that he had asked Pompeo to say something rather than do anything. To express… backing for Hong Kong.
Regarding Taiwan, Lai stated that he had attempted to link retired U.S. General Jack Keane and former U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz to a mediator for former Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen.
He told the court that he had tried to create an informal conduit between the Tsai government and then-U.S. President Donald Trump in order to improve understanding between the two countries because he and Tsai are friends and frequently discuss U.S. policy.
A spokeswoman for the foreign ministry in Beijing stated that no one could commit crimes and avoid punishment.
In connection with Lai’s trial, Lin Jian told reporters that Jimmy Lai is the primary organizer and participant in the anti-China and anti-Hong Kong event, as well as the agent and proxy of the anti-China forces.
However, Lai explained before the high court how his newspaper’s fundamental principles—a belief in the rule of law and liberties including the right to free expression, freedom of religion, and freedom of assembly—aligned with those of the people of Hong Kong.
Wearing a grey jacket and spectacles, Lai told a crowded courtroom, “We were always in support of movements for freedom.” He went on to say that he was against Taiwan and Hong Kong becoming independent.
With numerous police officers stationed inside and outside the building, about 100 people waited in the pouring rain, hunched under umbrellas, to get a spot in the court.
According to 64-year-old retiree William Wong, Apple Daily was the voice of many Hong Kong residents. It’s my way of expressing my political support for Lai. He has accomplished much for Hong Kong.
Senior employees of Apple Daily and its parent business Next Digital were among those who previously entered guilty pleas to allegations of plotting with Lai.
Lai had pressed for U.S. sanctions against China and Hong Kong, according to Cheung Kim-hung, the former CEO of Next Digital, who testified in court.
Beijing imposed the national security law (NSL) in July 2020 after sometimes violent pro-democracy protests in the Asian financial hub the previous year.
Before the law was passed, Lai said in court he had urged some newsroom staffers not to take a stance against former U.S. president Donald Trump, whom he hoped could help us to stop the NSL.
He did, however, clarify that he had never spoken to Trump directly or met him in person.
Lai had been held in pre-trial detention for more than 1,400 days, before his trial kicked off last December. He is already serving a nearly six-year jail term for fraud.
Diplomats from Australia, Britain, the European Union and the United States attended the hearing.
The U.S. government has condemned Lai s prosecution and called for his release, with his case shaping as a possible point of friction between the United States and China in the new Trump administration.
Asked last month whether he would speak to Chinese President Xi Jinping to get Lai out of China if he won the election, President-elect Trump told conservative political commentator Hugh Hewitt, in a podcast: 100%.
I ll get him out. He ll be easy to get out, Trump said.
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