The United States and the United Kingdom have strongly criticised the sentencing of Hong Kong pro-democracy figure Jimmy Lai, calling it unjust and politically driven. Lai, the founder of the now-closed Apple Daily newspaper, was sentenced to 20 years in prison by the Hong Kong High Court, the toughest punishment yet under the National Security Law imposed by Beijing.

The 78-year-old media entrepreneur was convicted on charges linked to collusion with foreign forces and publishing materials described as seditious. The court ruled that Lai had promoted sanctions against China and Hong Kong, and accused him of harbouring hostility toward the Chinese government. Judges described him as a central figure behind the alleged offences.

Reacting to the verdict, the United States said the case shows how far Beijing is willing to go to silence voices calling for basic freedoms in Hong Kong. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged authorities to grant Lai humanitarian parole, pointing out that he has already endured years of detention and a lengthy trial. Washington also accused China of abandoning commitments made under the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration.

The UK government also expressed deep concern, describing Lai’s conviction as punishment for exercising freedom of expression. British officials warned that the sentence could amount to a life term given his age and health. China, however, defended the ruling, insisting that Lai’s actions threatened national security and violated the “One Country, Two Systems” framework, while urging foreign governments not to interfere in its internal affairs.