JAKARTA - US President Donald Trump reportedly asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to release jailed Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai when the two leaders met in South Korea last week.
This information was conveyed by three people who were briefed on the talks and a US government official.
Trump did not discuss a special deal to release Lai, but spoke more broadly about concerns about the health and well-being of the 77-year-old publishing maestro after his lengthy trial on national security charges, said one of the sources.
Trump spent less than five minutes discussing the matter, the source added.
"President Trump raised the Jimmy Lai case, as he promised," the government official said.
"Both President Trump and President Xi are involved in further discussions," said a source.
"This was appointed by Trump and recorded by Xi," said a third source who did not wish to be named, given the sensitivity of the leaders' meetings.
The source said Trump said Lai's release would have a good impact on AS-Chinese relations and benefit the image of China.
Trump's direct intervention comes as Lai awaits a verdict after a trial widely seen as a symbol of China's crackdown on rights and freedoms in Asian financial centers under a national security law enacted following mass pro-democracy protests in 2019.
Lai, founder of the now-closed pro-democracy tabloid Apple Daily, pleaded not guilty to two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign powers, and charges of conspiracy to issue inciting material.
The US president said before the negotiations he planned to raise Lai's case, but neither he nor the statements of both sides mentioned it afterward.
The White House declined to comment on a question about Lai being discussed during the Trump-Xi meeting. The White House has also not confirmed that Trump mentioned the issue.
Liu Pengyu, spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Washington, said he was not aware of specific details about Lai from the meeting of the leaders, but stressed "Lai's crimes have greatly undermined Hong Kong's prosperity and stability."
"Any attempt to interfere with the judicial process or undermine the rule of law in Hong Kong will not work," Liu said.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said at a regular press conference in Beijing on Thursday that Lai was the "main planner and participant" in the "anti-Chinese riot" in Hong Kong.
"China's central government firmly supports Hong Kong's judicial institutions in carrying out their duties in accordance with the law," Mao said.
"Hong Kong's business is China's internal affairs and does not tolerate interference from external forces," he continued.
Although Lai is a British citizen, his case has been a source of tension between Washington and Beijing. Trump once said last year during his presidential campaign he would "100%" remove Lai from China.
Lai's son, Sebastien Lai, last week praised Trump and said he was "very grateful" following a previously unconfirmed report Trump had raised his father's case while speaking with Xi.
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