By Qing Ping
On February 9, 2026, the High Court of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region solemnly ruled in accordance with the law on Jimmy Lai's two counts of conspiring to collude with external forces to endanger national security and one count of conspiring to publish seditious publications, sentencing him to 20 years in prison. After the verdict was announced, certain politicians from the US, the UK, Canada and other countries, along with anti-China disruptors in Hong Kong, deliberately avoided acknowledging the solid factual and legal basis of the case. Instead, they seized upon the pretexts of "unduly prolonged detention" and "poor health" to hype up "humanitarian" issues and unreasonably demand Lai's release. This is not only a malicious misinterpretation of humanitarianism, but also a blatant trampling on the spirit of the rule of law, laying bare their political scheming and double standards.
The so-called "humanitarian crisis" in Jimmy Lai's case is pure nonsense. The Hong Kong correctional system has always strictly adhered to humanitarian principles, ensuring comprehensive protection of the lawful rights of all persons in custody — including Lai — such as medical care, visits, communication, welfare, religious observance and outdoor activities. This is a fact widely recognized by the international community. During Lai's detention, doctors seconded by the Department of Health conducted daily ward rounds and consultations, and specialists from the Hospital Authority provided regular medical services. Throughout his trial, Lai defended himself in court for 52 days, displaying a stable mental state and normal behavior. His legal team never raised any objections regarding detention conditions or health care provisions. Even so, anti-China forces in the US and some Western countries continue to fabricate political lies such as "abuse in prison," "harsh treatment," and "deteriorating health" in a bid to gain international sympathy for Lai and seek his acquittal or release through such "poor me" theatrics. These defamatory acts of rumor-mongering are completely untenable when faced with facts — they are nothing more than self-deceiving, contradictory and clumsy performances utterly beneath contempt.
Humanitarianism must never be reduced to unprincipled leniency outside the law. As one of the core values of modern civilization, humanitarianism emphasizes respect for the right to life, protection of human dignity, and the safeguarding of fundamental rights. In modern criminal law, it is embodied in principles such as legality, proportionality, the right to defense, prohibition of torture and ill-treatment, and provision of basic living and medical safeguards for prisoners. It pertains exclusively to the protection of rights and civility of procedure — not to unprincipled "forgiveness beyond the law" for criminals, nor is it a "shield" for offenders to evade justice. When the Hong Kong judge sentenced Lai, the sentence standard was determined based on several factors, including that the crime of colluding with external forces to endanger national security is a serious and major offense, and Lai was the mastermind and driver behind the various conspiracies. At the same time, taking into account that Lai's life in prison is harder than that of other inmates due to his age, health, solitary confinement, etc., the sentences for each charge were slightly reduced. This is a full reflection of the humanitarian spirit. However, certain external forces in the US and the West, driven by political manipulation, have distorted humanitarianism into a "get out of jail free card." By advocating for Lai's unconditional release, they not only pervert the positive value of humanitarianism, but also directly undermine the fundamental principles of the rule of law, including equality before the law, accountability for every violation of the law, and proportionality of crime and punishment.
The so-called "humanity" shown toward Lai is essentially "inhumanity" toward Hong Kong residents. Recalling the painful lessons of the 2019 turmoil, Lai, as the mastermind and driver behind the anti-China forces destabilizing Hong Kong, wantonly manipulated the media, incited social hatred, and blatantly colluded with external anti-China forces, soliciting foreign sanctions against Hong Kong and even mainland China. Even after the Hong Kong National Security Law took effect, drawing clear red lines for national security, he remained unrepentant and continued to offend through alternative means. His series of actions have not only seriously endangered national sovereignty, security and development interests, but also inflicted severe suffering on Hong Kong society. If a criminal as guilty of endangering the nation and destabilizing Hong Kong as Lai were to be shown leniency and exempted from punishment under the pretext of "humanitarianism," this would essentially inflict "secondary harm" on Hong Kong citizens already victimized by the 2019 turmoil. It would also, as Chief Justice Andrew Cheung of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal stated in his address at this year's Legal Year Opening Ceremony, "directly strike at the core of the rule of law in Hong Kong."
The US and certain Western countries are in no position — and have no moral standing — to lecture others on "humanitarianism." Look at the US in 2024, gun violence claimed the lives of over 16,100 innocent civilians; the Guantanamo Bay prison continues to be mired in scandals of inmate abuse, with some individuals held for over 20 years without trial; the desperate cries of "I can't breathe" from George Floyd, a Black man subjected to brutal police violence, still ring in our ears; and gunshots by ICE agents killing civilians have rung out twice already. Despite their own horrific and appalling humanitarian disasters and a long track record of abuses, the US and some Western countries, cloaking themselves in the banner of humanitarianism, brazenly demand the release of convicted criminals, crudely interfere in China's internal affairs and meddle with Hong Kong's judicial independence. This is naked double standards, and it will be met with the contempt of the Hong Kong public and discerning members of the international community.
Lai will eventually be swept into the dustbin of history. Before that complete abandonment, however, external forces from the US and West, together with anti-China disruptors in Hong Kong, are still trying to squeeze out every last drop of political value from him. The so-called "humanitarianism" is nothing but a fig leaf for their political manipulation. This utterly hypocritical political charade will never fool the discerning Hong Kong public, nor will it shake Hong Kong's bedrock rule of law. On the contrary, it will only further strengthen the resolve and determination of Hong Kong society to safeguard national security and uphold the rule of law in Hong Kong!
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