Gingrich Suggests Xi Jinping Bring Detained Hong Kong Publisher to Washington Meeting

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has suggested that Chinese President Xi Jinping should bring detained Hong Kong democracy advocate Jimmy Lai to Washington when he meets with President Donald Trump. Gingrich stated that releasing Lai would serve as a goodwill gesture and could help reset the relationship between the U.S. and China.

Xi is expected to visit Washington next week and is reportedly bringing a delegation of Chinese business executives. The meeting agenda is anticipated to include discussions on trade, artificial intelligence, investment, and international competition. Gingrich posits that Xi's inclusion of Lai, a British Catholic, newspaper publisher, and democracy advocate, would signal China's genuine interest in fairer dealings with the West.

Lai, 78, was convicted in December on national security and sedition offenses under a Chinese security law and sentenced to 20 years in prison on February 9. His detention has been widely condemned by Western nations and described by Gingrich as an effort by the Chinese Communist Party to silence dissent.

President Trump has previously called for Lai's release, reportedly raising the issue with Xi during a prior meeting. The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has also called for Lai's immediate release, as have governments from the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and other G7 countries.

Lai has reportedly endured prolonged solitary confinement and suffers from various health issues, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart problems, while being denied independent medical treatment. Gingrich argues that releasing Lai would not resolve all disputes between the U.S. and China, such as those concerning tariffs, Taiwan, rare earth minerals, and human rights, but it would represent a significant step toward improving bilateral relations and would begin Xi's discussions with Trump on a positive note.