Chinese President Xi Jinping has refused to make any concession on the case of imprisoned Catholic media tycoon Jimmy Lai during high-level talks with US President Donald Trump on May 14, despite direct American intervention on behalf of the 78-year-old Hong Kong pro-democracy figure.
During the bilateral summit held in Beijing, President Trump personally presented Xi with a list of political and religious prisoners and pressed the case for Lai’s release. According to Trump’s own account upon his return, Xi described the matter as “particularly difficult” and offered no prospect of clemency. Trump later told reporters: “I’m not optimistic.”
