Hong Kong’s Crackdown on Jimmy Lai Signals a Dire Threat to Press Freedom and Global Rule of Law

As Hong Kong prepares to sentence former media tycoon Jimmy Lai, the world witnesses a chilling reminder of how far China will go to suppress dissent and silence voices that champion freedom. Lai, founder of the now-shuttered Apple Daily, faces potential life imprisonment after his conviction under a harsh national security law imposed by Beijing — a law that blatantly undermines the autonomy once promised to the city. Is This Justice or Political Repression? Lai’s case is not merely about one man but about the systematic dismantling of press freedom and political liberties in Hong Kong, once hailed as Asia’s...