Li Zhiying Has Been Convicted, Drawing International Condemnation, While Trump and 30 Others Have Been Accused of Colluding With Foreign Forces.

In the early morning of October 6, 2024, Trump delivered his victory speech. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

[People News] On December 15, a judge from the Hong Kong High Court, appointed under the Chinese Communist Party's National Security Law, ruled that Li Zhiying, the founder of the Hong Kong Next Media Group, was guilty of 'conspiring to collude with foreign (overseas) forces,' 'conspiring to publish seditious publications,' and 'endangering national security.' Sentencing has been postponed until next year. Observers estimate that, given the CCP's aggressive stance, Li could face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, having already been detained for over 1,800 days.

Numerous international human rights organisations have been raising their voices over the past two days, highlighting that the case was not decided by a jury but was manipulated by Beijing. From illegal arrests to sham trials, these actions illustrate the CCP's destruction of civilisation, rule of law, and freedom in Hong Kong.

A statement from Amnesty International described the ruling as shocking and disappointing. Bai Shuran, the Director of International Affairs, stated that the verdict in Li's case signals the death knell for press freedom in Hong Kong, as journalism has been redefined as a crime under the National Security Law. Furthermore, actions that were once considered criticism of the government before the law's implementation are now treated as criminal offences, clearly indicating that the National Security Law is a tool for the CCP to integrate Hong Kong into the mainland. She stressed that conducting business in Hong Kong will require increased caution moving forward.

In Paris, France, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) expressed profound outrage regarding this case, characterising the imprisonment of Li Zhiying as a symbol of the wider destructive collapse of press freedom in Hong Kong. The organisation released a statement denouncing the false charges as shameful. Secretary-General Thibaut Bruttin further asserted that Li was 'illegally convicted,' which reflects the alarming decline of media freedom in Hong Kong. This trial concerns press freedom, not Li as an individual.

Human Rights Watch Asia contends that Li Zhiying's conviction on fabricated charges is both cruel and a mockery of justice, intended to silence those who dare to criticise the Communist Party. Director Pearson called on foreign governments to apply pressure to overturn Li's case and secure his immediate release, while the governments of China and Hong Kong should also face consequences for their suppression of press freedom.

In New York, USA, the Committee to Protect Journalists also issued a statement, quoting Asia-Pacific Director Beh Lih Yi, who stated that this presumed conviction represents a shameful act of persecution, underscoring Hong Kong's total disregard for press freedom, and urged the Hong Kong government to release Li Zhiying without delay.

In Hong Kong, the local Journalists Association expressed 'extreme regret' over Li Zhiying's conviction, noting that it has inflicted 'irreversible harm' on the journalism community. The statement further indicated that the ability of the Hong Kong press to hold the powerful accountable has been diminished, leading to a homogenization of voices in society, and emphasised that 'today's conviction cannot justify the losses endured by Hong Kong society as a whole.'

Additionally, the UK, the US, and non-governmental organisations like 'Amnesty International' have strongly criticised the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). However, the CCP not only ignores its own blatant violations of the constitution and international law but also denounces international condemnation as slander against Hong Kong's judiciary, expressing strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition.

On December 15, during a routine press conference at the CCP's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a reporter from Agence France-Presse inquired about the international criticism. Spokesperson Guo Jiakun angrily responded: '...relevant countries... must not make irresponsible remarks regarding judicial cases in the Special Administrative Region, nor interfere in Hong Kong's judiciary or meddle in China's internal affairs...'

The CCP categorises human rights violations as internal matters and has compiled an extensive blacklist of 'foreign forces,' claiming they are anti-China. The detailed judgment in the case of Li Zhiying (Jimmy Lai) remarkably presented some of these names in a chart, including Trump, Mike Pence, Mike Pompeo, Tsai Ing-wen, and Chris Patten, among 30 others, which is quite unusual.

Foreigners or Chinese who are aware of this have never harmed China; rather, they have consistently advocated for the improvement of human rights in the country. Trump has repeatedly mentioned in public that he would discuss the release of Li Zhiying during his meetings with Xi Jinping. On the 15th, Trump expressed regret over Li's conviction, stating to the media, 'I feel very sad. I have discussed this matter with President Xi Jinping and asked him to consider releasing Li Zhiying.' According to media reports, Trump brought up the issue of Li Zhiying's release during his meeting with Xi Jinping in South Korea in October.

On the 15th, shortly after Trump delivered a speech, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio took to Twitter to assert that the verdict against Jimmy Lai (Li Zhiying) demonstrates China's (the CCP's) resolve to 'suppress those who seek to protect freedom of speech and other fundamental rights.' He notably reminded that prior to the UK's handover of the Hong Kong financial centre to China (the CCP) in 1997, China (the CCP) had pledged to uphold an independent judicial system.

In less than five years, the CCP has started to erode its own commitment to the international community regarding 'Hong Kong's 50 years unchanged.' Historically, since the Soviet Union's influence shifted to China, the CCP has been undermining human rights, the rule of law, morality, and culture in China, while persecuting the Chinese populace; it represents the anti-China forces that originated from Western Europe. After World War II, it was the CCP, alongside the Soviet army, Japan, and the Korean surrendering troops, that collectively defeated the Chinese Nationalist Army, forcing them to retreat to Taiwan. Now, the CCP is once again engaging in a 'thief shouting stop thief' tactic by specifically naming certain foreign 'anti-China' individuals, denouncing these international organisations and foreign political figures as anti-China. This is a cognitive warfare strategy aimed at confusing the public, diverting attention from its own malevolent actions, and maintaining power through deception. The conviction of Jimmy Lai and the blatant disregard for international condemnation signify that the CCP has abandoned any concern for international opinion regarding its violations of international law and is acting with complete impunity.

(People News first published)
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