UK – The Times, Sept. 23, 2026
A campaign for the ailing publisher’s release has gathered momentum before the US-China summit, after his plight was raised again by Burnham at a meeting in New York
There are “no downsides” to President Xi agreeing to requests from Andy Burnham and President Trump for the release of the imprisoned Hong Kong newspaper owner Jimmy Lai, his son has said.
Sebastien Lai told The Times that he was grateful to the prime minister for raising his father’s case with Trump at their meeting in New York on Tuesday. He said he hoped and expected that on Thursday, when the two presidents hold a summit in Washington, Trump would agree to Burnham’s request to issue a new appeal to Xi for clemency.
Trump has made two previous requests in person to Xi over Lai’s case, but without success. Sebastien Lai says his father is in failing health and that it would surely be better for China if he were not to die in prison.
“Wouldn’t that be a bigger headache for the Hong Kong and Chinese governments?” he said, speaking from London. “After all, a martyr never dies.”
