分类： politics

Hong Kong’s High Court has delivered a landmark verdict against pro-democracy activist and media magnate Jimmy Lai, finding the 78-year-old guilty of colluding with foreign forces under the city’s National Security Law. The ruling concludes a highly scrutinized trial that has drawn international condemnation and raised fundamental questions about judicial independence in the former British colony.

Presiding Judge Esther Toh stated there was “no doubt” Lai harbored animosity toward the People’s Republic of China, citing his “constant invitation to the US to help bring down the government of the PRC with the excuse of helping the people of Hong Kong.” The court determined that Lai utilized his now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper as an instrument to lobby foreign governments for sanctions against both Hong Kong and China.

Lai, who has been detained since December 2020, maintained his innocence throughout proceedings. His testimony in November included denials of all charges, asserting he had “never” employed his international connections to influence foreign policy regarding Hong Kong. When questioned about meetings with former US officials Mike Pence and Mike Pompeo, Lai characterized the interactions as informational exchanges rather than policy requests.

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee welcomed the verdict, stating Lai’s actions “damaged the country’s interests and the welfare of Hong Kongers.” Conversely, human rights organizations condemned the outcome as “a cruel judicial farce” and part of a broader pattern of using the security legislation to suppress dissent.

The case has ignited diplomatic tensions, with the United Kingdom condemning what it termed “politically motivated persecution” of its citizen. Lai’s son Sebastien appealed for stronger British intervention, urging that his father’s release become a precondition for improved Sino-UK relations. Chinese authorities rebuffed international criticism, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun expressing “strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to the brazen defamation and smearing of the judicial system in Hong Kong.”

Beyond the national security charges, Lai was concurrently convicted under colonial-era legislation for publishing seditious material through Apple Daily. The publication had evolved into a symbolic voice for Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement prior to its forced closure.

The trial’s proceedings faced scrutiny over procedural matters, including the denial of Lai’s preferred UK-based legal representation and restrictions on foreign lawyers working national security cases. Concerns about Lai’s health during detention—reportedly including solitary confinement and deteriorating physical condition—were raised repeatedly by his family and advocacy groups.

As Lai awaits sentencing scheduled for early next year, his case joins hundreds of prosecutions under the National Security Law, which boasts a conviction rate approaching 100% according to recent statistics. The legislation, implemented directly by Beijing in 2020 without local legislative consultation, grants authorities expansive powers to address perceived threats to stability and order.

Hong Kong’s judiciary has reached a landmark verdict in the high-profile case against media tycoon Jimmy Lai, finding the prominent pro-democracy figure guilty of violating the territory’s national security law. The ruling delivered on December 15, 2025, represents a significant enforcement of the controversial legislation imposed by Beijing in 2020.

The court proceedings, which attracted international attention, concluded after extensive deliberation regarding Lai’s activities that prosecutors argued threatened national security. The verdict underscores Hong Kong’s rigorous implementation of legal measures designed to protect China’s sovereignty and security interests following the 2019 pro-democracy protests.

Legal experts note this case establishes important precedents for interpreting the national security law’s provisions regarding what constitutes endangering national security. The judgment demonstrates Hong Kong’s judicial system operating within the framework of the “one country, two systems” principle while addressing activities perceived as challenging central government authority.

The conviction occurs amid ongoing developments in Hong Kong’s political landscape, where authorities continue to balance legal enforcement with maintaining the region’s distinctive characteristics. International observers have closely monitored the case for its implications on freedom of expression and judicial independence in the semi-autonomous territory.

This judicial outcome follows similar cases under the national security legislation and signals the continued application of legal measures that Beijing describes as essential for maintaining stability while critics argue may affect civil liberties.

In a landmark development for South Korea’s political landscape, the special counsel investigation into former President Yoon Suk-yeol has reached its conclusion. Led by Special Prosecutor Cho Eun-suk, the probe has resulted in criminal charges against 24 high-ranking officials from the previous administration.

At a nationally televised press conference in Seoul, Prosecutor Cho revealed that the investigation substantiated allegations that Yoon, who assumed office in May 2022, had orchestrated preparations for martial law declaration before October 2023. The primary objective, according to the special counsel, was to consolidate and perpetuate presidential power through extraordinary measures.

The investigation further uncovered that Yoon’s administration allegedly attempted to provoke a military response from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) through unconventional military operations. This calculated provocation, the counsel asserted, was intended to create a pretext for implementing martial law. However, the strategy ultimately failed as DPRK forces did not engage militarily.

This conclusive investigation follows Yoon’s dramatic impeachment by the Constitutional Court on April 4, 2025, which centered on his unsuccessful martial law initiative from December of the previous year. The impeachment proceedings formally removed Yoon from office, making him the latest South Korean leader to face serious legal consequences after leaving power.

The former president, currently detained, was formally charged on January 26 as the alleged mastermind behind the insurrection plot. The comprehensive indictment includes former Prime Minister, former Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, multiple ministers, and presidential secretaries, marking one of the most significant political corruption cases in recent South Korean history.

LONDON — In her inaugural public address as director of the United Kingdom’s Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), chief Blaise Metreweli issued a stark warning regarding Russian President Vladimir Putin’s systematic campaign to export chaos worldwide, fundamentally altering conflict dynamics and presenting unprecedented security challenges.

The newly appointed intelligence head, who assumed leadership in late September following Richard Moore’s tenure, characterized Russia’s approach as inherently “aggressive and expansionist.” According to speech excerpts released by the Foreign Office, Metreweli emphasized that “the export of chaos represents a deliberate feature rather than an accidental flaw in Russia’s international engagement strategy,” predicting this pattern will persist until Putin is compelled to reconsider his strategic calculations.

Metreweli brings unique qualifications to her historic appointment as MI6’s first female chief since the agency’s 1909 establishment. Previously serving as the service’s director of technology and innovation—a position analogous to the fictional Q character in James Bond lore—she brings dual expertise in both technological and human intelligence operations.

Her address underscores the increasingly interconnected and unpredictable nature of modern threats, advocating for intelligence officers to achieve fluency in both digital and traditional espionage techniques. “Our operatives must demonstrate equal comfort with code lines and human sources, achieving proficiency in programming languages like Python alongside multiple spoken languages,” she asserted.

This warning aligns with broader Western security concerns regarding hybrid warfare tactics employed by Russia, Iran, and China. These nations increasingly utilize cyber operations, espionage, and influence campaigns that threaten global stability, as demonstrated by recent UK sanctions against Russian media outlets for alleged information warfare and Chinese technology firms for extensive cyber activities.

Metreweli’s appointment marks a significant milestone in intelligence leadership diversity, following similar breakthroughs at MI5—the domestic security service led by Stella Rimington (1992-1996) and Eliza Manningham-Buller (2002-2007)—and GCHQ, where Anne Keast-Butler assumed leadership in 2023.

A comprehensive six-month investigation has revealed that former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol orchestrated an elaborate year-long scheme to impose martial law and eliminate political opposition, according to findings announced Monday by independent counsel Cho Eun-suk.

The probe determined that Yoon and his military allies systematically planned to provoke North Korea into military confrontations to justify declaring martial law since October 2023. The conspirators allegedly reshuffled top military officials to install compliant associates while removing Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun, who opposed the plan. Investigators documented how Yoon’s administration hosted dinner parties to build consensus among military leaders for their unprecedented power grab.

Despite failing to elicit any substantial response from North Korea—which investigators attribute to Pyongyang’s preoccupation with supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine—Yoon proceeded with his martial law declaration in December 2024. He branded the liberal-controlled legislature as ‘anti-state forces’ requiring urgent removal. The decree lasted mere hours before collapsing under massive public protests and legislative resistance.

The investigation uncovered disturbing evidence of Yoon’s hostility toward political rivals, including recordings where he referred to main opposition figure Han Dong-hun as ‘a commie’ and threatened to ‘shoot him to death’ during meetings with military generals. The hostility stemmed from conflicts over scandals involving Yoon’s wife.

Hundreds of troops temporarily encircled parliament buildings during the brief martial law period, triggering massive public demonstrations that ultimately led to Yoon’s impeachment by lawmakers. The Constitutional Court formally ousted Yoon in April, followed by snap elections that brought Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae Myung to power in June.

Yoon currently remains jailed while facing rebellion charges, maintaining that his actions represented a legitimate attempt to gain public support against political obstruction. Alongside Yoon, 23 associates—including former Defense Minister Kim, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, and Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok—have been indicted for their roles in the martial law scheme.

In a related development, police raided Unification Church headquarters in Seoul as part of a separate bribery investigation involving numerous politicians. The ongoing probe includes allegations against Yoon’s wife, Kim Keon Hee, who stands accused of receiving bribes from church officials seeking business favors. Investigations have expanded to include potential corruption among both conservative and liberal politicians, prompting President Lee to call for a thorough examination of questionable ties between religious groups and political figures.

Hong Kong’s judiciary has delivered a landmark verdict in one of the city’s most scrutinized national security cases, finding media magnate Jimmy Lai guilty of conspiring with foreign forces. The conviction represents a critical juncture for Hong Kong’s legal landscape under the sweeping National Security Law imposed by Beijing in 2020.

The high-profile trial, conducted without a jury per national security protocols, centered on allegations that Lai’s pro-democracy activism and international lobbying efforts constituted collusion with external actors. Prosecutors presented evidence showing Lai’s extensive communications with Western politicians and his public endorsements of international sanctions against Hong Kong officials.

Legal experts indicate this verdict establishes a formidable precedent for interpreting the National Security Law’s provisions on foreign interference. The ruling demonstrates Hong Kong’s judicial system will aggressively pursue cases perceived as threatening China’s sovereignty, regardless of the defendant’s public profile or international attention.

The international community has responded with sharp criticism, with multiple Western governments condemning the verdict as politically motivated and warning of deteriorating freedoms in Hong Kong. Chinese authorities have praised the decision as a legitimate exercise of legal sovereignty and necessary protection against external interference.

This case signals Hong Kong’s continuing transformation from its former status as an international business hub with protected civil liberties to a territory where national security considerations dominate legal and political discourse. The conviction likely foreshadows increased judicial scrutiny of activities involving foreign contacts for Hong Kong activists, journalists, and business leaders.