UK – Independent, June 03, 2026
The Foreign Secretary was asked by reporters about the pro-democracy campaigner’s detention during her two-day trip to China.
Yvette Cooper vowed to continue raising the case of imprisoned British citizen Jimmy Lai with the Chinese government amid opposition calls for her to secure his release by Beijing.
The Foreign Secretary said a “really important” working relationship had been established between the UK and China after years of frosty relations as she capped a two-day visit to the country.
But she has faced pressure to take a harder line with Beijing over concerns about national security and human rights issues, including the detention of pro-democracy campaigner Mr Lai.
Asked whether she had insisted on his release and how firmly she had pressed his case in talks with her counterpart Wang Yi, Ms Cooper told the Press Association: “I have raised this and will continue to raise Jimmy Lai because this is a very important case to us.
“Our case remains we want to see his release as soon as possible, he’s a very elderly man.
“And I will be talking to his family and will continue to talk to his family.”
