Cella: Jimmy Lais dom avslöjar KKP:s sanna natur | NTD NYHETER

What might be surprising to many is that, you know, Jimmy Lai is a British citizen. He's not a mainland Chinese citizen. Hong Kong as well. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer visiting China just about a week ago, calling for a renewed strategic partnership with China. Here's Jimmy Lai's son, Sebastian, commenting on this. And how can we have close relationships? How can we normalize relationships if a British citizen who's 78, whose only crime is standing up for freedom and democracy, is defending his colleagues, defending the people of Hong Kong, is still in jail in Hong Kong? I mean, this is a very easy thing for Hong Kong and China to do, to show good faith to our nation, to show good faith to our government. Put this man on a plane. Send him over to the UK. It will take them two hours. If they're not even willing to do something like that, I think that tells you all you need to know about the relationship. Ambassador, how many more instances of the CCP's transnational repression do we have to witness? And what does this ultimately show us about the nature of the CCP and how the world's community should be treating them, especially the UK? I think they're very opportunistic and they will seize a moment if they find a weak link, if you will. And regrettably for his country, which he bears citizenship to, really has not fought for him as stridently as I would argue the United States has. And that's regrettable. And I'm hoping that this is a moment for the world to be aware of the malign ways and to be very careful of the dealings that China has in these international situations, but on their own shores, the malign activities, subnational incursions and so forth. So I'm hopeful that we'll see a repeat of history, perhaps through the leadership of President Trump and Secretary Rubio, where soon enough Jimmy will be freed. I'm praying for that. During the last interview before his arrest, Jimmy Lai was actually speaking on his loyalty to Hong Kong. I come here with one dollar. I got everything I have because of this place. You know, a wonderful family. You know, they're very supportive. If this is the payback timing, this is my redemption. You must fear some things for your family, for Hong Kong, for your loved ones. Yes, I do have fear. You're right. For decades, Ambassador, it was a one country, two systems recognition where, you know, the British handed it over to China, and then it really sort of took effect. The CCP implementing its own policy there gradually as that finally took place. Talk to us about the decisions that Jimmy Lai made to stay and fight for freedom in Hong Kong. I think it's a testament to his character. I think it's a testament to his faith. He is a role model for others who are subjugated under the boot of totalitarianism around the world and will be forever come what may for Jimmy. And he has traveled the heights of power and in business and has met great success. However, that is very transitory for him. He knows he could have gotten on a plane as soon as he knew what was coming, but he opted to stay and fight on principle. And what is not transitory is his faith and belief in Jesus. And he is a solid believer in the Catholic Church and is a witness for all to follow, whether laity or religious, and certainly should be an inspiration to those fighting for freedom against subjugation around the world, civilians and elected officials alike. So he was obviously a very successful business tycoon in Hong Kong. He also founded the Apple Daily, which was a media conglomerate. So this really, at the core of all of this, we're looking at freedom of speech and a free press. In Hong Kong, independent media, since merging with mainland China, has been under tremendous pressure to just simply survive. For example, our sister media, the Epoch Times, had to stop printing in Hong Kong. We had folks in the Epoch Times print press. It was ransacked and set on fire, the print presses. Why is the loss of free press key to the CCP's control in Hong Kong? Because they want to drive the narrative from the top down. They control everything from the top down, no matter the sector or strata. Business, academia, media, if we have a media presence from the United States there, they have to be bought in so that they can censor. And they do not want the unvarnished truth to be told, as your good offices do, as Apple Daily did, because I think that would expose the nature of the Chinese Communist Party, its nefarious ways, that I do not really think will stand the test of time. In the Cold War, we saw that that was painful, very difficult, very bloody time. But eventually, that Cold War ended, the Soviet Union collapsed. And I think that the Chinese Communist Party, Marxism, Leninism, is really radically contrary to human nature. And ultimately will not stand the test of time. So I think they're very insecure about the nature of their ideology. And it could quickly come to an end if the winds of freedom were to blow. And they're being very careful to make sure that doesn't happen. Former Ambassador Joseph Sella, really appreciate you joining us.