The Asahi Shimbun article on Smith's advocacy for Jimmy Lai'U.S. Lawmaker Calling for Jimmy Lai's Release Expresses Hope for Summit: "A Golden Opportunity"'

U.S. Representative Chris Smith speaks to the press. — March 24, 2026, Washington. Photo by Shotaro Hata. By Sotaro Hata Published May 13, 2026 at 9:51 AM On May 11, U.S. President Trump indicated his intention to raise the case of Jimmy Lai (78)—the founder of the now-defunct Hong Kong newspaper Apple Daily , who is currently imprisoned following his conviction for violating the Hong Kong National Security Law—during an upcoming summit meeting. Representative Chris Smith (Republican), a U.S. House member who has long advocated for Lai, spoke with The Asahi Shimbun ahead of President Trump’s visit to China. A House member for 46 years, Rep. Smith serves on the Foreign Affairs Committee and has dedicated his efforts to issues of international cooperation and human rights. In March, he invited Lai’s daughter, Claire, to attend the President’s State of the Union address. Rep. Smith praised Apple Daily —known for its editorial stance critical of the Chinese Communist Party—as a "voice of integrity and good faith." He condemned Lai’s conviction as "unjust," citing the fact that the verdict was based on charges stemming from his journalistic work and his meetings with U.S. government officials, through which he advocated for sanctions against the Hong Kong and Chinese governments. Furthermore, he stated, "Now that a guilty verdict has been handed down, it is highly desirable that he be released on humanitarian grounds and allowed to return to his family." China: Hong Kong’s Judiciary Is an "Internal Affair" Since Lai’s arrest, Rep. Smith has actively lobbied both the previous Biden administration and the current administration to provide U.S. support for his cause. On May 7—as President Trump’s visit to China drew near—he organized an open letter signed by members of both the House and Senate, urging the President to raise the issue of Lai’s release during his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Last December, following Lai’s conviction, President Trump remarked that the verdict was "extremely disappointing." He also revealed that he had "asked Mr. Xi to consider his release." When asked why Mr. Trump has chosen to raise the issue of Mr. Lai, Mr. Smith explained that it stems from "Mr. Trump's humanitarian convictions." Jimmy Lai (center) being arrested by the Hong Kong Police in Hong Kong on April 18, 2020. — AP However, securing the release of a convicted individual directly implicates the judicial systems—and the "face"—of both China and Hong Kong; consequently, it is widely believed that it will not be easy for the Chinese side to make such a concession. While acknowledging that China "may not necessarily heed our pleas," Mr. Smith noted that if the Chinese side were to demonstrate a positive gesture regarding Mr. Lai, it would present "a golden opportunity for Mr. Xi to declare to the entire world that China possesses a conscience." On the 12th, Guo Jiakun, Deputy Director-General of the Chinese Foreign Ministry's Information Department, characterized Mr. Lai as the "ringleader of anti-China and Hong Kong-destabilizing activities," asserting that judicial matters in Hong Kong "fall within the scope of China's internal affairs." This article was published on May 13, 2026 and can be found online at: https://digital.asahi.com/articles/ASV5F02FHV5FUHBI02NM.html?ptoken=01KRGZWWEBSMDP3Z5JBX5AMFWW