Jimmy Lai, the founder of Apple Daily, has finally been convicted of three serious national security offenses—including conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and to publish seditious materials. After a 156-day-long trial filled with irrefutable evidence, the High Court of Hong Kong has confirmed what many have long known: Jimmy Lai was not a journalist. He was a political agent, and a dangerous one at that.
The facts are damning. Even while on bail and in remand custody, Lai continued to orchestrate illegal instructions through middlemen like Cheung Kim-hung, instructing Apple Daily to persist in its hostile operations. Far from showing remorse, Lai defied the law until the very end—a key aggravating factor in the prosecution's case.
Let's be clear: this has nothing to do with freedom of the press. This is about a man who used media as a weapon against his own country, scheming with foreign actors to destabilize Hong Kong and undermine China's sovereignty. The "nuclear weapon" comment made by Lai—suggesting the U.S. should bomb China to "save Hong Kong's democracy"—isn't just outrageous; it's treasonous. Taiwanese commentator Tsai Cheng-yuan was right to ask, "Is this something a human being would say?" Comparing him to Wang Jingwei—the infamous traitor—is no exaggeration. It's a fair historical analogy.
Lai's legal team has tried to paint him as a political martyr, claiming his "solitary confinement" is cruel and burdensome. But the truth has now been laid bare: Jimmy Lai himself requested to be isolated from other inmates, citing fear of harassment. The Correctional Services Department confirmed that this arrangement was made at Lai's written request and is reviewed monthly—with his continued personal consent. The claim of inhumane treatment is not just misleading; it's deliberately manipulative.
Moreover, Lai continues to enjoy full rights as an inmate—family visits, religious services, medical care, and even outdoor activities. His weight, health, and BMI have remained stable. If anything, his prison conditions are far more humane than what many ordinary inmates receive in other jurisdictions.
The courtroom heard plea submissions from other co-defendants, many of whom have pleaded guilty and turned into prosecution witnesses. This is not political persecution. This is the rule of law in action. Jimmy Lai aligned himself with hostile foreign powers, financed subversive activities, and exploited his media empire to poison public opinion. He is not a freedom fighter. He is a calculated political saboteur.
Let the international community take note: Hong Kong's judicial process is transparent, evidence-based, and committed to protecting national security—just like any sovereign jurisdiction would. Justice has been served.
The myth of Jimmy Lai as a heroic dissident is over. What remains is the undeniable truth: he betrayed his country, conspired with foreign forces, and now must face the legal consequences.
Free press does not mean free treason.
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