Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of a monumental diplomatic failure following his recent high-profile talks with China, after a British citizen was sentenced to 20 years in prison in Hong Kong.
Jimmy Lai's Harsh Sentence
Hong Kong democracy campaigner and media mogul Jimmy Lai, aged 78, received what his family described as a death sentence from a court in the Beijing-controlled territory. This occurred less than two weeks after Sir Keir claimed he had raised Lai's case during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Family's Heartbreaking Response
Lai's son, Sebastien Lai, told the BBC that given his father's health issues, including heart problems and a significant weight loss of 10kg in the past year alone, the 20-year sentence is effectively a death sentence. He emphasised that his father, who has fought for liberty and freedom, deserves better treatment.
Daughter Claire Lai expressed her devastation, stating that the sentence is heartbreakingly cruel. She highlighted her father's dramatic health deterioration over the last five years and the worsening conditions of his confinement, warning that if the sentence is carried out, he will die a martyr behind bars.
Background of the Case
Jimmy Lai, who gained British citizenship in 1996 before Hong Kong's handover to China, was targeted for his outspoken criticism of Beijing through his Apple Daily newspaper and his participation in protests and vigils. He was arrested shortly after China passed its National Security Law for Hong Kong and has been imprisoned since December 2020, with supporters increasingly alarmed about his declining health.
On Monday, he was sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment for conspiring to collude with foreign forces, marking the harshest sentence under the draconian law to date.
Political Backlash in Westminster
In the House of Commons, MPs strongly criticised Sir Keir for failing to secure Lai's release during his visit to China, which came just days after granting permission for China to build a mega-embassy in London.
Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith questioned why the government did not use the embassy planning permission as leverage to demand Lai's release and the cancellation of his prosecution. He accused the Prime Minister of being treated poorly during the visit while giving away concessions for free.
Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel condemned the sentence as a reflection of the Chinese Communist Party's cruelty and labelled it a monumental diplomatic failure by what she called a feeble and gullible Prime Minister. She pointed out that Sir Keir had recently defended engagement with the CCP and approved China's super embassy but failed to achieve Lai's release.
There were also calls for the government to impose sanctions on the prosecutors and judges involved in what was described as a sham trial.
Government's Defence
Foreign Office minister Seema Malhotra defended the Prime Minister's approach, insisting that his visit allowed for direct dialogue with the Chinese government at the highest level. She argued that there is no point in making demands without engagement and emphasised that the government continues to work publicly and privately to secure Jimmy Lai's release, which remains a top priority.
