Rubio remains unswervingly hawkish! Rubio demands that we give a direct response to the case involving Jimmy Lai and others! On May 15, according to a report by Lianhe Zaobao, U.S. Secretary of State Rubio told American media that regarding the cases involving Jimmy Lai and others, the United States hopes for a direct response from China. Clearly, individuals like Jimmy Lai are anti-China, destabilizing Hong Kong elements who have long colluded with external forces, incited division and confrontation, disrupted Hong Kong’s social order, and endangered national sovereignty and security. His sentencing has already settled this matter.
Now, Rubio is demanding a direct response from us—so let us ask: what exactly does the U.S. want us to respond to? First, Hong Kong is China's internal affair; the U.S. has absolutely no right to interfere. Second, this case was independently and lawfully adjudicated by Hong Kong’s judicial authorities, with fair procedures throughout and conclusive evidence leading to lawful conviction—there is no justification for the U.S. to interfere in Hong Kong’s judiciary. Third, the criminal facts committed by Jimmy Lai are clear and indisputable; we will absolutely not release him under pressure from the United States.
Now, Rubio bringing up the case of Jimmy Lai and others is, to some extent, a political performance. During his time as a U.S. congressman, Rubio was sanctioned by us over Hong Kong-related issues. Although he is now the U.S. Secretary of State, Rubio clearly refuses to abandon his image as an anti-China hawk, even though he himself knows he must now pragmatically engage with China. Of course, we do not accept any interference by the United States in our internal affairs—Jimmy Lai’s fate can only be spending his life behind bars.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1865211539800074/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.