Trump vows to free Lai as Hong Kong court weighs his fate

A high profile national security trial in Hong Kong tests the reach of Beijing's crackdown while a pledge from Donald Trump to secure Lai's release raises questions about diplomacy.

Trump vows to free Jimmy Lai as Hong Kong court weighs his fate

A Hong Kong court is set to hear closing arguments in the national security trial of Jimmy Lai, the pro democracy publisher and founder of Apple Daily. Lai faces two counts of colluding with foreign forces and a separate sedition charge, carrying the possibility of life in prison. He has pleaded not guilty. The trial unfolds as Beijing tightens its grip on dissent in the city and global attention focuses on Beijing's approach to Hong Kong.

Trump has said he would seek Lai's release if he returns to the White House and has tied the case to the United States effort to strike a trade deal with China. White House aides say Lai should be freed, while Beijing and the Hong Kong authorities push back against what they call foreign interference. Observers say the verdict could shape views of the rule of law in the city and influence future diplomacy between Washington and Beijing.

The case sits at the crossroads of press freedom and a security policy viewed by many in the city as necessary for stability, while critics see it as a tool to silence dissent. The court outcome could alter how outsiders view the independence of the judiciary in Hong Kong and how Beijing uses the law to signal its limits. A release would read as a rare concession; a harsh sentence would reinforce the perception that the city remains under Beijing control.

Highlights

The Lai case remains a turning point for the idea of rule of law in a city under pressure of political and economic power.