Analysis: Beijing Unwilling to Use Jimmy Lai Case as Bargaining Chip in Hong Kong Governance

(Central News Agency, Taipei, 16th) US President Trump stated that he mentioned the release of Jimmy Lai during his visit to China to Chinese President Xi Jinping, but Xi responded that it was "tricky." Analysts say Beijing will not compromise on symbolic political issues and is unwilling to turn Hong Kong's governance into a bargaining chip in US-China trade negotiations. Trump arrived in Beijing on the 13th for a state visit and returned to the US on the 15th, during which he held talks and meetings with Xi Jinping. After concluding his visit, Trump stated, "I can only say it was a huge success," and that the US and China reached many important agreements. On the flight back to the US on Air Force One, Trump also mentioned to the media that during this visit, he had raised the issue of Jimmy Lai, founder of the Hong Kong Next Digital Group, with Xi Jinping, and "He (Xi Jinping) told me that Jimmy Lai was tricky for him." According to international media reports, Trump stated that he and Xi Jinping "discussed in detail" the fact that Jimmy Lai is elderly, in worsening health, and currently serving a sentence in a Hong Kong prison. Trump said to Xi Jinping, "If you could release him, I would be grateful. He is old, and his health might not be good, so it would be a good thing"; however, Trump admitted to the media, "Honestly, I am not optimistic about this matter (releasing Jimmy Lai)." He Pin, a senior Chinese media professional residing in the US, posted on the social platform X, "The Jimmy Lai case reminds the outside world: the US and China can talk about business, airlines, and strategic stability, but that does not mean Beijing will compromise on symbolic political issues." The article states, "For Xi Jinping, Jimmy Lai is not an ordinary prisoner, but a symbol of the intersection of Hong Kong's opposition movement, external pressure, and national security narrative. Trump's ability to bring the issue to the table is already a diplomatic gesture; but Xi's refusal shows that Beijing is unwilling to turn Hong Kong's governance into a bargaining chip for US-China trade." 78-year-old Jimmy Lai was sentenced to 20 years in prison earlier for "conspiracy to collude with foreign forces" and "conspiracy to publish seditious materials." The Committee to Protect Journalists, Human Rights Watch, and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights have all criticized the Jimmy Lai case as a symbol of the drastic contraction of freedom of the press and expression under Hong Kong's National Security Law; Beijing and the Hong Kong government have consistently maintained that the Jimmy Lai case is a national security issue, not a freedom of the press issue. He Pin said that Trump's trip may have indeed opened a new window in US-China relations, but that window is open on trade, economics, and strategic interests, not on human rights and Hong Kong issues. The so-called "huge success" is not without its price, and that price is that many value-based issues were placed on the edge of the negotiating table. (Editor: Zhou Huiying / Chen Kaiyu) 1150516