By South China Morning Post | Created at 2025-01-09 12:10:08 | Updated at 2025-01-09 21:38:43
9 hours ago
Former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying has said some trade restrictions are “reasonable” but accused mainland China of “bullying” Australia by imposing duties on exports in what he saw as a retaliation against Canberra over its support for Hong Kong and its push for a probe into the Covid-19 pandemic.
The founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily tabloid newspaper took Beijing to task on Thursday for allegedly failing to observe “rules of international trade”, as his oral testimony in his marathon national security trial entered its 25th day at West Kowloon Court.
A High Court judge overseeing the case questioned Lai’s basis for calling Beijing a “bully” and asked whether he would use the same characterisation had the tariffs been imposed by another country.
Lai is contesting two conspiracy charges of collusion with foreign forces and a third of conspiracy to print and distribute seditious publications.
The 77-year-old has sought to refute accusations that he attracted sanctions and other hostile responses from the West while inciting hatred towards Beijing and Hong Kong authorities through comments made in newspaper columns, on social media and in the online commentary series “Live Chat with Jimmy Lai”.
The court heard Lai said in an episode of the show on December 1 of 2020 that he was disappointed by the lack of response to Beijing’s “wolf warrior” diplomacy on display during its ongoing trade dispute with Canberra.
