On Monday (December 15, 2025), Chinese Ambassador to the UK Zheng Zeguang lodged solemn representations with a senior official from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, pushing back against British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper’s recent remarks on the conviction of Jimmy Lai 📣.
Zheng called Cooper’s comments irresponsible and said they smear the Hong Kong National Security Law. He argued that these remarks amount to gross interference in China’s internal affairs, trample the spirit of the rule of law, and violate basic norms of international relations.
The dispute follows the High Court of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s verdict in the national security case against Jimmy Lai and three linked companies from the now-defunct Apple Daily. Lai was found guilty on charges of conspiring to collude with external forces and of publishing seditious materials ⚖️. A statement from the Chinese Embassy highlighted Lai’s role as a primary planner of anti-China riots in Hong Kong, rejecting claims that he was peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression.
Zheng reminded the UK that its colonial rule in Hong Kong ended long ago, saying it has no right to interfere in the city’s affairs. He warned that further meddling in Hong Kong’s judicial matters would only expose malicious intentions and spark social indignation in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Why it matters: This diplomatic clash underscores ongoing debates over national security, freedom of expression, and international diplomacy — topics shaping digital activism and policy across South and Southeast Asia 🌏.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
