Western politicians love to bring up Jimmy Lai Chee-ying’s case. On the afternoon of Feb 8 (London time) at a rally at the former Royal Mint, British politicians mentioned Lai. On the same day, the US State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor also brought up Lai. Western politicians often confuse the public by packaging Lai as a “democracy fighter”, claiming that his prosecution contravenes “freedom of speech”, which is utterly nonsensical.
According to disclosures in the Hong Kong courts, Lai was allegedly involved in colluding with foreign forces, endangering national security, and these charges have nothing to do with “freedom of speech” or building a democratic system. Western politicians frequently emphasize the importance of national security; it is clear that Western democratic systems also have untouchable red lines on national security.
As stated by the spokesperson for the Commissioner’s Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Lai, as a key plotter and instigator of anti-China events that disrupted Hong Kong, acted as vanguard for the United States’ efforts to contain China by using the HKSAR, blatantly colluding with external forces to endanger national security.
During a visit to the US, Lai publicly declared: “We in Hong Kong are fighting for the shared values of the US against China. We are fighting their war in the enemy camp.” During the height of the 2019 “black-clad riots”, Lai met with then US vice president Mike Pence and then US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to discuss Hong Kong’s anti-government protest movement.
Court hearings disclosed that Lai allocated millions of Hong Kong dollars to support former US military officials or former US consuls in Hong Kong, mobilizing them to interfere in China’s Taiwan Strait affairs. The court also heard that Lai publicly called for foreign sanctions against China and the HKSAR.
The more the West tries to whitewash Lai’s case and show support for him, the more it reveals its political intentions. As the Commissioner’s Office pointed out, “The louder the US shouts for Lai, the more it proves Lai’s collusion with them.” In the public’s eye, the US’ unwavering support for Lai strengthens the notion that he is a proxy in America’s anti-China efforts in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong operates under a common law system, and Lai’s case is being heard by three judges designated under the National Security Law for Hong Kong. The judges conduct detailed examinations of the evidence presented by both the prosecution and defense. The judicial process is conducted professionally and independently, as observed by the public. As stated by the SAR government in a statement on Feb 8, all cases, including Lai’s, “are handled strictly based on evidence and in accordance with the law. All defendants are tried fairly under Hong Kong’s applicable laws (including the Hong Kong National Security Law) and are protected under the Basic Law and Hong Kong Bill of Rights.”
Lai’s case has been widely reported in Western media, with some local media focusing extensively on court proceedings, covering remarks by judges, the prosecution, and the defense, including Lai’s own words. This detailed reporting has allowed the public to clearly understand the details, key points, and contentious aspects of the case, revealing that the prosecution’s submission has nothing to do with the “freedom of speech” as claimed by the US State Department and other Western governments. The State Department’s pronouncements disregard the trial’s facts, distort the truth, aim to undermine the rule of law in the HKSAR, insult the professionalism of Hong Kong judges, and contradict US politicians’ long-standing advocacy for “judicial independence”. US politicians should stop interfering in Lai’s case and let justice run its course if they genuinely respect the “universal values” they have been touting, including judicial independence.
By frequently bringing up Lai, the US government seeks to gain leverage in its competition with China. To the US government and politicians, Lai is merely a card to play to expand American interests and suppress China.
This is evident in the US government’s historical tolerance and friendliness toward pro-American but undemocratic or even feudal nations. This demonstrates that the US’ so-called “defense of democracy” and “universal values” are mere facades for expanding its national interests. When in the US’ interest, notions of “democracy and human rights” can be discarded, just as so-called “democracy fighters” can be abandoned on a whim. American scholar Noam Chomsky elaborates on this in his new book The Myth of American Idealism, discussing how the US government forcefully suppressed non-pro-US democratic forces in Central America, Asia, and the Middle East, resulting in numerous assassinations, rapes, and abuses, and the deaths of hundreds of thousands of civilians. With this understanding, Hong Kong's “pro-democracy” advocates should have no illusions about the US; otherwise, they risk being betrayed by the US government as well.
While frequently invoking American “national security” to suppress China, the US criticizes the prosecution of national security offenses in Hong Kong—a glaring double standard. The US State Department’s comments on Lai’s case constitute blatant interference in Hong Kong affairs, which are China’s internal affairs, highlighting America’s long-arm jurisdiction. To American politicians, I would say this: your nation has plenty of problems, including the persistent nightmare of school shootings for American students and parents. Instead of using double standards to interfere with HKSAR affairs and engaging in futile long-arm jurisdiction, maybe you should mind your own business.
The author is a former information coordinator of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government and a member of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
