Overview
- Lai’s legal team confirmed they have instructions not to lodge an appeal against either the conviction or the sentence and offered no explanation for the decision.
- He was found guilty of colluding with foreign forces and seditious publication after a 156-day trial before designated national security judges, receiving the harshest penalty yet under the law.
- The standard 28-day window to appeal expires on Monday, leaving only the possibility of a late appeal that would require compelling justification.
- His family cites diabetes and heart issues in pressing for compassionate release, while the UN rights chief and G7 members have condemned the verdict as incompatible with international law and authorities in Hong Kong and Beijing say the case upheld national security.
- In a separate case, an appeals court overturned Lai’s earlier fraud conviction, as six former Apple Daily executives received up to 10 years, and President Donald Trump raised Lai’s case with Xi Jinping ahead of a March 31–April 2 trip to China.