On Jan. 5, local time, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, who the United States forcibly took, appeared in a U.S. federal district court in New York. In court, Maduro stated that he was "kidnapped" and is "not guilty." In fact, Maduro's kidnapping is also related to the collusion between internal traitors in Venezuela and the United States. Look at Hong Kong: If Jimmy Lai, who openly claims to "fight for the United States," had succeeded, Hong Kong would have long since changed color, becoming a "trophy" of American hegemony.
The international community has strongly condemned the United States for its blatant violation of Venezuela's sovereignty and its disregard for the human rights of Maduro and his wife. Lau Siu-kai, a consultant to the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, noted that the United States has consistently failed to strictly adhere to the spirit and principles of the so-called "liberal international order." The Trump administration's recent brutal invasion of Venezuela has pushed this so-called "liberal international order" to the brink of collapse.
The United States touts freedom and democracy externally while pursuing hegemonic and unilateralist policies, yet its domestic human rights situation is in disarray. For example, a report by the Los Angeles Times on Sept. 4, 2024, revealed that over the past two years, dozens of women detained in two prisons have filed multiple lawsuits against the correctional department, alleging that prison staff used their authority to sexually harass, molest, and rape them.
Internal Traitors Bring in the Wolf: Venezuelan President Kidnapped
A report by The New York Times on Dec. 18, 2024, highlighted that inmates at Guantanamo Bay have been imprisoned for about 20 years. The prison's torture system continues to this day, with inmates routinely subjected to inhumane treatment, including waterboarding, mock executions, rectal force-feeding, and sleep deprivation.
Faced with the United States' egregious human rights record, American politicians remain silent, instead imposing their will on other countries and their people, arbitrarily interfering in their internal affairs. Did Trump ever mention "human rights" when he invaded other countries and kidnapped their presidents? On the contrary, Trump expressed concern for Jimmy Lai's so-called "human rights." After Lai was convicted in court, Trump claimed that Lai was elderly and in poor health, vowing to monitor the situation. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio alleged that Lai's health had deteriorated in prison and called for his release on humanitarian grounds.
However, after 156 days of trial, the truth is clear. The case reveals that Jimmy Lai's acts of destabilizing Hong Kong and opposing China were not isolated incidents but part of a decades-long, organized, and premeditated scheme. Lai's collusion with foreign forces was particularly brazen: through his aide Mark Simon, a former CIA agent, he frequently held secret meetings with the U.S. Consul General in Hong Kong and made over 20 donations to American politicians to solidify his role as an "anti-China agent." In 2019, he openly traveled to the United States to meet with then-Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and other officials. Even after the Hong Kong National Security Law came into effect, Lai continued his activities. In July 2020, he colluded with U.S. government officials, urging the U.S. to revoke Hong Kong's special status in an attempt to pressure China into compromise through external forces.
Jimmy Lai Begs the US to Sanction Hong Kong
In court, Jimmy Lai admitted to proclaiming that he fights for the United States. He also stated that in 2020, he believed free countries view China as an enemy, prompting foreign nations to reassess their China policies, and Western countries to realize they must ally to confront a powerful China. He further claimed that at the time, he believed Western countries must resist China under Trump's leadership and that Trump adopted a tough stance and measures against China was a fact.
Chan Yung, a Hong Kong deputy to the National People's Congress, argued that the United States has recklessly interfered in Hong Kong's affairs precisely because of "pawns" like Jimmy Lai who invite wolves into the house. Lai's actions of "fighting for the United States" equate to treason. Had he succeeded, Hong Kong would have suffered devastating consequences. The court's verdict finding him guilty on all three charges is entirely fair and justified.
Gordon Lam, another Hong Kong deputy to the National People's Congress, noted that when the United States suppresses other countries, it relies not only on external pressure but also cultivates internal agents. In Jimmy Lai's case, his active collusion with U.S. politicians clearly shows that national security threats come not only from the outside but also from traitors like Wu Sangui who collaborate with external forces. Reflecting on this, without the National Security Law and if Jimmy Lai had succeeded, Hong Kong could have become a victim of American arrogance and hegemony, with unimaginable consequences for its future.
(Source: Ta Kung Pao | Journalist: Gong Xueming | English Editor: Liu Yu)
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