HONG KONG: On Thursday ( Jan 16 ), convicted Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai testified that he orchestrated meetings between former Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen and American establishment figures, with prosecutors alleging that he colluded with foreign forces.
Lai is one of the most well-known individuals facing charges under Hong Kong’s regional security law, which Beijing imposed in 2020 following widespread pro-democracy protests in the area.
The 77-year-old leader of the now-closed newspaper Apple Daily has been in jail since December 2020, and rights organizations in the West have called for his release.
Lai took the witness stand in November, and on Thursday, the prosecution began cross-examination after the defense attorneys finished their doubting.
Collaborating with unusual causes is a crime that can result in a maximum sentence of life in prison. Lai also faces a charge related to” subversive publications”.
On Thursday, Lai said he set up a paid” firm” design in 2017 where retired United States public Jack Keane and former US assistant secretary of defence Paul Wolfowitz would join with Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwan’s leader at the time.
Lai claimed that Tsai’s government wanted to know what the most recent US thinking on the self-ruled beach was when Trump became president in 2016.
“( Keane and Wolfowitz ) were both my friends and they seemed to know about the ( Trump ) administration’s sentiments and thinking toward Taiwan”, Lai told the court.
Lawyers in court allegedly presented information to Lai that suggested a stronger US military appearance in Taiwan.
According to prosecutor Anthony Chau,” I think the purpose of engaging ( Keane and Wolfowitz ) was to offer Taiwan advice on how to upgrade its military.”
” I disagree”, Lai replied.