Europe Asia News

Speaking to reporters, Trump said, “I’m very saddened. I spoke to President Xi about this and asked him to consider his release. He’s an elderly man and not in good health. So I conveyed this request. We’ll see what happens.”

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a post shortly after Trump’s remarks that the decision demonstrates China’s determination to “silence those who seek to defend freedom of expression and other fundamental rights.”

Lai, 78, who suffers from diabetes, was found guilty on all three charges in a national security case on Monday and, having already been imprisoned since his arrest in late 2020, could spend the rest of his life in prison.