China Summons Western Diplomats in Response to International Criticism of Jimmy Lai Sentence
Beijing rebukes U.S., U.K. and others over statements on Hong Kong pro-democracy figure’s 20-year sentence, underscoring deepening diplomatic tensions
China’s Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong has formally summoned representatives from the United States, the United Kingdom and other Western countries to protest what it described as unwarranted interference in the judicial handling of the high-profile Jimmy Lai national security case.
The move comes after a Hong Kong court sentenced the 78-year-old pro-democracy media figure to 20 years in prison under the national security law on charges of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and conspiracy to publish seditious materials, the most severe sentence yet under the law.
Chinese authorities have defended the ruling as a legitimate application of Hong Kong’s legal framework and urged foreign governments to respect China’s sovereignty and the city’s rule of law, saying that external commentary and criticism constitute interference in internal affairs.
Western governments, including the U.S. and U.K., have described the verdict as unjust and raised concerns about its implications for freedom of expression and judicial independence in Hong Kong, with calls from some quarters for humanitarian parole and diplomatic engagement on the case.
The diplomatic rebukes underscore a growing friction between China and Western capitals over perceptions of civil liberties in Hong Kong and broader geopolitical relations, as Beijing asserts its stance on sovereignty and legal process in response to sustained international scrutiny.
The move comes after a Hong Kong court sentenced the 78-year-old pro-democracy media figure to 20 years in prison under the national security law on charges of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and conspiracy to publish seditious materials, the most severe sentence yet under the law.
Chinese authorities have defended the ruling as a legitimate application of Hong Kong’s legal framework and urged foreign governments to respect China’s sovereignty and the city’s rule of law, saying that external commentary and criticism constitute interference in internal affairs.
Western governments, including the U.S. and U.K., have described the verdict as unjust and raised concerns about its implications for freedom of expression and judicial independence in Hong Kong, with calls from some quarters for humanitarian parole and diplomatic engagement on the case.
The diplomatic rebukes underscore a growing friction between China and Western capitals over perceptions of civil liberties in Hong Kong and broader geopolitical relations, as Beijing asserts its stance on sovereignty and legal process in response to sustained international scrutiny.
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