Overview
- President Donald Trump said he will raise Jimmy Lai’s case in talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping at their Oct. 30 meeting in South Korea.
- A bipartisan group of 38 U.S. senators urged Trump to seek Lai’s release, describing him as a political prisoner in deteriorating health.
- Beijing’s foreign ministry office in Hong Kong condemned U.S. politicians for glorifying Lai and accused them of interfering in China’s internal affairs.
- Hong Kong authorities said the case is being handled according to law and warned that outside commentary could be seen as interference with the judiciary.
- Lai is detained awaiting a verdict after a lengthy national security trial on conspiracy-to-collude and seditious-publication charges, with a potential life sentence if convicted.