The Brit standing up to China: can Starmer save Jimmy Lai?

Aug 22, 2025
29 mins

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Episode Description

Pro-democracy campaigner, media mogul and British citizen Jimmy Lai has been imprisoned in China for five years and on trial for two. As the closing statements are made, what will happen to one of China’s most prominent critics? And can the UK government - or Donald Trump - step in to free him?

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Guest: Cindy Yu, Columnist and Contributing Editor, The Times and The Sunday Times. 

Host: Manveen Rana.

Producer: Olivia Case.

Clips: BBC, Hoover Institute / YouTube, Sky, The Guardian, CNN, FOX, AP, Max Media, Asia, The Hong Konger: Jimmy Lai's Extraordinary Struggle for Freedom / Ron Holwerda / Acton Institute. 

Photo: Getty Images. 

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com

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