Press freedom does not mean freedom of subversion

On Tuesday, Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, already imprisoned for illegal assembly, faced another trial for allegedly breaking the National Security Law. According to reports, he is suspected of conspiracy to commit collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security.

As expected, some Western media covered the incident as "violation of press freedom". Press freedom is a good phrase and is what China always protects, but that has nothing to do with Lai's case.

According to reports, as early as 2014, Lai funded the illegal "Occupy Central" movement, and a big amount of his money came from the US National Endowment for Democracy, an organization famous for playing "color revolution" in one country after another. Does press freedom include taking money from foreign agencies to harm one's own home city?

During the riots in 2019, Lai and his Apple Daily portrayed rioters as "heroes" and the law-enforcing police as "devil"; It not implied, but cheated youngsters into becoming cannon fodder in their fight against the police. Does press freedom include inciting violence?

Also during the riots, Lai said he went to the US to call for sanctions against Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the whole China; A file submitted to the Western Kowloon Court in December 2020 confirmed that. Does press freedom include pushing for sanctions against one's own motherland and home city? Isn't that a subversive deed?

Just imagine what the US federal government would do if the boss of New York Times asked another country to overthrow the government. It is as ridiculous to link that case with "press freedom" as to Lai's with the concept.

Benny Tai Yiu-ting, a "spiritual mentor" of the rioters victimizing Hong Kong, frequently incited his followers to "break law" for "justice".

Jimmy Lai is one of those who have broken the law, and justice will be served to each and every of them.

Follow the writer on Twitter: @zzxang86