The British government has taken the significant diplomatic step of summoning China's ambassador to the UK, following the controversial guilty verdict handed to Hong Kong media tycoon and British citizen, Jimmy Lai.
Foreign Secretary Condemns 'Politically Motivated' Prosecution
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper instructed the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to call in the ambassador on Monday, 15 December 2025, to express the UK's profound disapproval in the strongest terms. Speaking in the House of Commons, Cooper condemned the conviction of the 78-year-old pro-democracy activist on sedition and conspiracy charges as a politically motivated prosecution.
She stated that Lai, the founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, had been targeted for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression. Cooper warned that any prison sentence could effectively be a life term for the elderly man and called for his immediate release, while also demanding the repeal of the Beijing-imposed national security law used to arrest him in 2020.
Family and MPs Demand Concrete Action
The verdict has intensified pressure on the UK government to move beyond rhetoric. Sebastien Lai, Jimmy Lai's son who watched from the Commons gallery, argued that ministers must now "put action behind words". He urged the government to make his father's release a precondition for any closer UK-China relations, stating the core duty of any government is to protect its citizens.
He revealed the severe toll of over five years in detention, much of it in solitary confinement, on his father's health, including heart issues and his nails falling out. The cross-party All-Party Parliamentary Group on Arbitrary Detention criticised the government for not taking stronger action sooner, suggesting faster intervention could have secured Lai's release in time for Christmas.
Broader Diplomatic Repercussions and China's Response
The case has sparked a fierce debate over the UK's diplomatic approach to Beijing. Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel labelled the trial a "political show trial" and urged the government to cancel Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's planned visit to China in January unless Lai is freed. She also called for China to be placed in the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme.
In response, Cooper insisted that engagement with China must continue to convey the strength of the UK's feeling, rejecting calls for complete disengagement. However, Downing Street confirmed the case remains a priority, with the Prime Minister's spokesman condemning the verdict and vowing to continue appeals for Lai's release and medical access.
China's embassy in London issued a robust rebuttal, accusing the UK of blatantly interfering in China's internal affairs and trampling on the rule of law. A spokesperson insisted the handling of the case was "in strict accordance with the law" and "beyond question", warning that UK interference would "get nowhere".
Human rights groups echoed the condemnation. Amnesty International said the conviction felt like "the death knell for press freedom in Hong Kong", where journalism has been rebranded as a crime under the national security law.
