Jimmy Lai denies acting as "agent" for Taiwan and the US in diplomatic relations

Next Digital founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying admitted in court that he facilitated Taiwan's diplomatic relationship with the United States but strongly rejected claims that he acted as an “agent” for either government or intervened in Taiwan's policies “under the table.” 

This testimony came during the 121st day of Lai’s trial at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court. On this third day of questioning by deputy director of public prosecutions Anthony Chau Tin-hang, the court examined Lai's financial dealings with key American figures. 

Lai reportedly paid a total of HK$14.9 million to former US General Jack Keane and ex-Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz for their consultancy services to Taiwan, along with covering trip expenses to meet then-Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen between 2017 and 2018. 

Also, he paid over HK$1 million to Tsai's aide, Antonio Chang Ch'un-nan, in 2020.

Prosecution evidence included an internal email from Apple Daily Taiwan, where former publisher Chen Yue-shing claimed Lai instructed him in 2019 to make payments to Chang, despite Chang no longer being associated with the newspaper. 

Lai, however, said he could not recall making such a request and suggested it might have been a mistake.

Chau alleged that payments to Chang were linked to the consultancy services provided by Keane and Wolfowitz, but Lai refuted this claim, saying, “I was helping Tsai Ing-wen; why should I pay him [Chang]? I was helping his boss.”

National security judge Alex Lee Wan-tang questioned Lai's motives for financially supporting Keane and Wolfowitz, to which Lai responded that he had significant business interests in Taiwan. 

Chau also accused Lai of promoting a strategy to “exploit Taiwan to contain China,” referencing a 2017 meeting with former US National Security Advisor John Bolton, where Lai purportedly suggested using Taiwan as a bargaining chip against China. Although Lai denied promoting such an idea publicly, he acknowledged agreement with it.

Further questions by Chau revealed Lai's relationship with former US Consul-General in Hong Kong James Cunningham, including Lai's referral of Cunningham to Chang, which led to a meeting between Cunningham and Tsai in 2017. 

Lai admitted to covering Cunningham’s visit to Taiwan, explaining that it aligned with suggestions from Keane and Wolfowitz, who criticized the efficiency of Taiwan's diplomatic team in the US.

When pressed by Judge Lee about potential under-the-table interventions in Taiwanese policies, Lai maintained that he viewed Chang as Tsai’s “right-hand man.” 

In response to doubts raised by the prosecution about his role as a middleman for the US, Lai insisted that his actions were solely in support of Taiwan, which was seeking assistance from the United States at the time.

(Eunice Lam)