Foreign ministry urges US to ‘safeguard the stable development of China-US relations and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait’
2-MIN READ2-MIN1 ListenCao Jiaxuanin BeijingPublished: 7:30pm, 13 Mar 2026Beijing on Friday warned Washington against making moves involving Hong Kong or Taiwan ahead of the coming visit by US President Donald Trump later this month.It condemned United States’ calls for the release of jailed Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying and reiterated opposition to American arms sales to the self-ruled island.Speaking at a regular press briefing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said Lai “should be severely punished according to the law”, and accused external forces of interfering in Hong Kong’s judicial process and China’s internal affairs.
“Jimmy Lai is a major planner and participant in a series of serious anti-China and destabilising incidents in Hong Kong,” Guo said.
“His actions seriously challenged the bottom line of the ‘one country, two systems’ principle, endangered national security and undermined Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability, as well as the well-being of its residents.”
Hong Kong’s Jimmy Lai sentenced to 20 years in prison for national security crimes
Hong Kong’s Jimmy Lai sentenced to 20 years in prison for national security crimesThe remarks came in response to a question about Washington’s hopes for Lai to be released on humanitarian grounds and speculation it might consider easing some sanctions related to Hong Kong as part of a potential arrangement.
