The conviction of former media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying in a high-profile Hong Kong trial has drawn sharp reactions in London, casting uncertainty over thawing Sino-British ties before Keir Starmer visits China.
Although the outcome of Lai’s 156-day national security trial was widely expected, observers say it poses a significant test for the Labour government’s balancing act on China, which could narrow the space for engagement even if its immediate impact on bilateral relations is limited.
Lai, 78, a British citizen and the founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily, was convicted on Monday of conspiring to “collude with foreign forces or with external elements to endanger national security” and publishing seditious material.
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Lai has spent five years in custody, denied all charges and faces the possibility of life in prison, with sentencing expected next year.
The trial, which began in 2023 and was heard by a panel of state-appointed judges without a jury, drew intense international scrutiny and was seen as a new diplomatic flashpoint.
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As Britain’s prime minister, Starmer has framed his approach to China as “hard-headed engagement” while seeking deeper economic ties with Beijing.
