Media tycoon Jimmy Lai, on trial for national security offenses in Hong Kong, vehemently denied Wednesday that he urged former US Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to take action against Hong Kong or China during meetings in 2019, The Associated Press reports.
Lai, founder of the now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, faces life imprisonment if convicted of colluding with foreign forces and sedition.
Testifying in English, Lai acknowledged meetings with Pence and Pompeo during Hong Kong’s 2019 anti-government protests. He confirmed requesting Pence to publicly support Hong Kong but insisted he never asked for U.S. government intervention, stating, “It’s beyond me.” Similar conversations, he said, occurred with Pompeo, focusing on expressing support rather than demanding action.
The prosecution alleges Lai solicited U.S. sanctions against Chinese and Hong Kong officials involved in the crackdown on the 2019 protests, citing his meetings with Pence, Pompeo, and U.S. senators. Lai’s defense counters that his interactions focused solely on garnering U.S. support for Hong Kong, not prompting specific actions.
Lai also detailed his connections with various figures, including former Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and former Hong Kong Governor Chris Patten, emphasizing that these relationships were not intended to influence foreign policy. He explained his introduction of former U.S. officials Paul Wolfowitz and Jack Keane to Tsai as stemming from her desire to understand the Trump administration’s thinking, adding that he never directly communicated with President Trump himself.
Lai’s trial is viewed as a critical test of media freedom and judicial independence in Hong Kong. Dozens of supporters braved the rain to attend the hearing, underscoring the public’s concern for his case. The trial follows the recent sentencing of 45 pro-democracy activists to several years in prison under the controversial national security law imposed by Beijing.
The Hong Kong and Chinese governments maintain that the national security law restored stability after the 2019 protests, while critics argue it has severely eroded Hong Kong’s civil liberties, promised to be preserved for 50 years after the handover from British rule.
