Trump declined to name specific cases; Jimmy Lai's release had previously been raised with Beijing
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![US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping [Reuters]](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/10/01/rcv.YNA.20260929.PRU20260929390101009_P1.jpg)
President Donald Trump said he raised the issue of political prisoners held in China during last week's summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday (local time), Trump confirmed that the cases of Jimmy Lai — Hong Kong's most prominent pro-democracy media figure — and American citizens detained in China had come up during the summit. "I discussed that with President Xi. I certainly did," Trump said, according to Reuters.
Trump declined to specify which cases he raised, saying only, "We had a conversation, and I think we had a very, very important discussion. I hope it was a fruitful one."
The White House had said ahead of Xi's visit to the United States that Trump was expected to raise the issue of Americans wrongfully detained in China. It remains unclear, however, whether broader human rights concerns — including those involving Tibet and the Uyghur minority in Xinjiang — were on the summit agenda.
Jimmy Lai, founder of the now-shuttered Hong Kong pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in February after being convicted on three counts of violating the national security law, including collusion with foreign forces and publishing seditious material.
Western governments and human rights groups have consistently called for his release, citing violations of freedom of expression.
Trump also raised Lai's case with Xi during a visit to China in May. On his way home, Trump disclosed that Xi had called it "a tough one."
Beijing has maintained that it firmly opposes outside interference in China's internal affairs in connection with the Lai case.
Beyond Lai, two other Americans are currently held in China: Min Zin, a Myanmar-born political scientist, and Dr. Yulin Chen, a Chinese-American seismologist.
Min Zin was detained on espionage charges in June after traveling to China at the invitation of the Chinese government to attend an academic conference.
Yulin Chen, who had been researching the detection of North Korean nuclear tests, was arrested on espionage charges at Beijing Capital International Airport in November 2024 while attempting to return to the United States after visiting family in China.
mokiya@heraldcorp.com
