Sebastian Lai said his father will die in prison unless he is released soon during an interview with CBS News Mornings [1].
The appeal targets the upcoming summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. Because Jimmy Lai is a prominent figure in the Hong Kong pro-democracy movement, his fate has become a focal point for international human rights advocates and diplomatic tensions between Washington and Beijing.
Jimmy Lai, 78 [2], is currently serving a 20-year sentence [3]. Reports indicate he is being held in solitary confinement, and his health is deteriorating [4]. Sebastian Lai said he is concerned regarding his father's medical condition and the harsh environment of his incarceration.
"My dad will die in prison if he's not saved soon," Sebastian Lai said [1].
The interview, which aired on Aug. 20, 2025 [5], served as a public plea for the U.S. administration to use its diplomatic leverage. Sebastian Lai said the upcoming meeting between the two world leaders is a potential window for negotiation.
"We hope President Trump can raise his case with President Xi during the upcoming visit," Sebastian Lai said [6].
Jimmy Lai's imprisonment follows charges related to the Hong Kong National Security Law. His son has repeatedly warned that the window for a successful intervention is closing as his father's health fails. "If he's not released soon, he'll die in jail," Sebastian Lai said [7].
“"My dad will die in prison if he's not saved soon."”
The appeal by Sebastian Lai transforms a legal case into a diplomatic bargaining chip. By urging the U.S. president to intervene directly with President Xi, the family is attempting to move Jimmy Lai's status from a domestic legal matter in Hong Kong to a high-level geopolitical priority, potentially linking human rights concessions to broader U.S.-China trade or security negotiations.
