Key facts
- British Prime Minister Andy Burnham asked President Donald Trump to raise the case of Jimmy Lai with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
- The British delegation suggested Jimmy Lai could live in the United Kingdom.
- Jimmy Lai, a former media magnate and critic of Beijing, was sentenced to 20 years in prison on sedition charges in Hong Kong.
- Trump previously raised Lai's case with Xi in May.
- US lawmakers are urging Trump to seek Lai's release during the upcoming summit.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has requested that President Donald Trump raise the case of imprisoned Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai with Chinese leader Xi Jinping during an upcoming summit. The plea was made during a meeting between Burnham and Trump, who reportedly agreed that Lai should be freed. The British delegation also indicated that Lai would be welcomed to live in the United Kingdom.
Lai, a vocal critic of the Chinese Communist Party and a symbol of Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in February 2026 on charges of sedition and conspiracy to collude with foreign forces. He has been imprisoned since December 2020.
This is not the first time Trump has addressed Lai's situation with Chinese leadership; he previously raised the matter with Xi in May. However, there has been no indication from Beijing regarding Lai's potential release. A bipartisan group of US lawmakers has also been urging Trump to prioritize Lai's freedom in his discussions with Xi.
Advocates, including Lai's son Sebastien, have expressed grave concerns about his failing health and the prolonged delays in his trial, emphasizing the urgency of securing his release.