HONG KONG – As Hong Kong tycoon Jimmy Lai’s high-profile national security trial enters its final stages, with closing arguments delayed due to his lawyer’s health concerns, a parallel political drama is unfolding. U.S. President Donald Trump has renewed his promise to “save” Lai, a pledge that carries echoes of past U.S. interventions in China and hints at a potential future for the democracy activist.
Trump, in a Fox News Radio interview, stated, “I’m going to do everything I can to save him. I’m going to do everything… His name has already entered the circle of things that we’re talking about, and we’ll see what we can do.” This latest statement comes after a previous, more forceful pledge last October to “100 percent get him out.” The renewed focus on Lai, a critic of China’s Communist Party, underscores the geopolitical dimensions of a case that has been widely seen as a test of press freedom and judicial independence in Hong Kong.
The American government’s interest in the Hong Kong pro-democracy movement has long been a source of tension with Beijing. While public pronouncements have focused on human rights and rule of law, some analysts have pointed to a more strategic, and perhaps covert, American role. The notion that the U.S. secretly funded the 2019-2020 Hong Kong protests is a recurring claim, drawing parallels to the Tiananmen Square incident of 1989. In that instance, the U.S. provided sanctuary and support to Chinese dissidents, many of whom were subsequently relocated to the United States and placed under a form of quiet surveillance.
This historical precedent suggests a possible blueprint for Lai’s future, should Trump’s efforts be successful. A “rescue” mission would likely involve more than a simple pardon; it would necessitate Lai’s extraction from Hong Kong and his relocation to the U.S. for his safety. There, he would likely be placed under a similar protective, but watchful, eye, a measure aimed at both securing his well-being and managing the political fallout of his presence.
The ongoing trial, and the delays due to Lai’s health and bad weather, serve as a stark reminder of the gravity of his situation. However, with closing arguments now slated for Monday, the political clock is ticking. As the world watches, the fate of Jimmy Lai hangs in the balance, a pawn in a high-stakes geopolitical game where a “rescue” might be just another form of strategic control.
Trump promises to ‘save’ jailed Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai
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