U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and over 30 bipartisan colleagues, have sent a letter to President Donald Trump urging him to address the case of pro-democracy leader Jimmy Lai during an upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The senators are asking President Trump to advocate for Lai’s release, citing his deteriorating health and prolonged imprisonment.
The letter, which comes ahead of the expected meeting at the APEC conference, emphasizes the urgency of Jimmy Lai’s situation. The senators wrote: “As you meet with Xi Jinping at the APEC conference this month, we encourage you to use this opportunity to secure the release of Hong Kong political prisoner Jimmy Lai.”
They further stated, “We have deep respect for your outspoken advocacy for Mr. Lai. You understand the urgency of his plight: a devout Catholic, a beloved husband, father, and grandfather; and an ardent campaigner for freedom. Now, after almost five years in solitary confinement, Mr. Lai’s trial under Hong Kong’s National Security Law is coming to an end, but time is not on his side—he must be released immediately.”
The letter highlights the humanitarian concerns for Lai, who is 78 years old and in poor health. “The humanitarian case for Mr. Lai’s release is stronger and more dire than ever, which is why this must be addressed at the highest possible level. At 78 years old, he is in poor and deteriorating health. He is a diabetic and suffers from numerous physical ailments that are compounded by his continuing incarceration. Mr. Lai’s representatives have assured us that if he is released, he will leave Hong Kong and never return. He would have no desire to remain in public life. Should he die in prison, on the other hand, he would become a martyr; a powerful and enduring symbol of opposition.”
The senators concluded, “We have great confidence that, should you, as the leader of the free world, raise Jimmy Lai’s case, President Xi will understand the importance of releasing Jimmy Lai now, before it is too late.”
The letter was signed by a broad group of senators from both parties, including Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), and Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), among others.
Jimmy Lai is a prominent Hong Kong media figure and pro-democracy activist who has been imprisoned under Hong Kong’s National Security Law. His detention has drawn international attention due to concerns about his health and the broader implications for human rights in Hong Kong.
