The Chinese government has strongly denounced foreign attempts to interfere in Hong Kong's judicial independence following the sentencing of media figure Jimmy Lai. At a February 10 press briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian reaffirmed Beijing's position that Hong Kong affairs remain strictly within China's domestic jurisdiction.
This response comes after the United States, Britain, Australia, and the European Union issued statements regarding Monday's High Court ruling in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), which sentenced Lai to 20 years imprisonment for national security violations linked to 2019 protests.
"The judicial authorities of the HKSAR conducted proceedings strictly in accordance with facts and law," Lin stated, emphasizing that Lai's conviction for "endangering national security" followed thorough evidentiary review. The spokesperson criticized external forces for "using judicial cases as a pretext to maliciously smear Hong Kong's rule of law."
Lin reiterated China's commitment to the "One Country, Two Systems" principle while warning that "no illegal activities can be excused under the guise of democracy or freedom." The Foreign Ministry confirmed it had made formal diplomatic protests to concerned governments and institutions.
The spokesperson concluded by urging international actors to "respect China's sovereignty and immediately cease all interference" in matters pertaining to Hong Kong, characterizing such actions as counterproductive to regional stability.
