By South China Morning Post | Created at 2025-01-06 11:58:08 | Updated at 2025-01-07 21:44:20
1 day ago
Hong Kong’s Apple Daily tabloid founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying has denied advocating for Taiwan’s independence with his predictions the self-ruling island will become a “quasi-sovereign state” and “unique country” amid strengthening ties with Washington.
The former media boss on Monday also maintained the United States was trying to prevent war with Beijing by strengthening its military presence in Taiwan, while denying he ever suggested an all-out conflict between the two countries.
Lai’s marathon trial resumed at West Kowloon Court after the three presiding High Court judges took a two-week break during the festive season.
The 77-year-old is contesting two conspiracy charges of collusion with foreign forces and a third of conspiracy to print and distribute seditious publications.
The defence is seeking to demonstrate that Lai, an outspoken critic of Beijing, did not intend to incite hatred or trigger Western sanctions and other anti-China responses with his remarks made after Hong Kong’s adoption of the national security law in June 2020.
In an episode of “Live Chat with Jimmy Lai”, the former tabloid owner’s online commentary programme, he called on Taiwan to “aggressively” assist the US in restricting hi-tech exports to mainland China, as he believed the move would benefit the island in establishing itself as a technological hub in Asia.
