President Donald Trump discussed the plight of imprisoned Christians and pro-democracy figures during his visit to Beijing, focusing on the cases of pastor Ezra Jin and publisher Jimmy Lai. Trump indicated that Chinese President Xi Jinping showed serious consideration for the release of Jin but described Lai’s case as more complicated and challenging.
Ezra Jin, pastor of Zion Church in Beijing, was detained late in 2025. He is among 18 church members currently held in custody, according to his daughter. Trump said Xi expressed a willingness to strongly consider Jin’s release, signaling some potential progress on this front.
However, Jimmy Lai’s situation remains more precarious. Lai, a Hong Kong businessman and founder of the pro-democracy Apple Daily newspaper, was sentenced to 20 years in prison earlier this year. He was convicted of conspiring to collude with foreign forces and publishing seditious materials, charges critics argue are politically motivated to silence dissent. Trump said Xi acknowledged that Lai’s release would be more difficult due to the complex circumstances surrounding the case.
International voices have condemned Lai’s lengthy sentence. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called it an unjust verdict illustrating Beijing’s harsh stance against advocates of fundamental freedoms. Rubio emphasized the breach of international commitments Beijing made under the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration and appealed for humanitarian parole on Lai’s behalf, citing the toll on him and his family.
In the run-up to Trump’s trip, a bipartisan group of lawmakers sent a letter urging him to prioritize Lai’s full and unconditional release during talks with Xi. Their appeal underscored the broader concern over China’s suppression of religious and political freedoms affecting numerous detainees like Jin and Lai.