Canada Condemns China’s Crackdown, PM Mark Carney Demands Release Of Hong Kong Publisher Jimmy Lai | World News

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called for the immediate release of jailed Hong Kong democracy advocate and founder of the now-shuttered Apple Daily Jimmy Lai, highlighting rising tensions between Ottawa and Beijing over human rights violations. Carney’s remarks reflect Canada’s deep concern for press freedom and humanitarian principles as China tightens its crackdown on dissidents in Hong Kong, The Epoch Times reported.

According to The Epoch Times, speaking in Etobicoke, Ontario, on October 16, Carney emphasized that Canada’s call was based on “humanitarian grounds” and that its commitment to freedom of expression should extend to Hong Kong. Lai, 77, has been imprisoned since 2020 under Beijing’s strict national security law and faces charges of sedition and collusion with foreign forces. The Chinese government accused Lai of encouraging so-called “anti-China” activities aimed at destabilizing the region.

Lai, who has diabetes, has endured harsh quarantine conditions for nearly five years and faces the possibility of a life sentence. Multiple Canadian human rights organizations, including the Canadian Coalition for Human Rights in China and the Toronto Association for Democracy in China, have repeatedly called on Ottawa to grant Lai honorary Canadian citizenship and have pressed for his release, citing his family’s Canadian ties.

When asked about the citizenship offer, Carney emphasized that Canada’s priority is to protect its citizens but confirmed that his government would continue to defend Lai’s freedom. He also noted that Canada is reassessing its economic impact on China, especially at a time when trade disputes involving tariffs on agricultural exports and electric vehicles are escalating.

Referring to his meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on September 23, Carney described it as “constructive but cautious”. Although Foreign Minister Anita Anand visited China to discuss bilateral relations, China’s retaliatory tariffs on Canadian goods further strained relations, The Epoch Times reported.

Carney’s call dovetails with growing international criticism of China’s crackdown on journalists and activists. Lai’s imprisonment stands as a stark symbol of Beijing’s deepening authoritarianism and its systematic chipping away at Hong Kong’s promised freedoms, The Epoch Times reported.