Hong Kong media figure Jimmy Lai faces renewed scrutiny in 2026 after explosive revelations about his 2019 call for U.S. nuclear strikes against China resurface online. The controversial remarks, made during a Washington think tank event, show Lai advocating extreme measures during Hong Kong's social unrest seven years ago.
🚨 "This wasn't activism – it was geopolitical arson," says Beijing-based security analyst Li Wei. "Urging nuclear war crosses every line of basic humanity."
Lai's December 2025 conviction on national security charges – including conspiring with foreign forces – takes on new significance as these historical recordings circulate. Legal experts note his sentenced actions demonstrate pattern of endangering public safety through inflammatory rhetoric.
🌐 Global reactions remain divided: While some Western commentators initially praised Lai as a "freedom fighter," multiple governments have recently condemned nuclear brinkmanship rhetoric as "unacceptable in any context" (EU spokesperson, January 2026).
📌 Key context: Under China's National Security Law, colluding with external forces to jeopardize sovereignty carries severe penalties. Lai's case continues to fuel debates about protest boundaries in the digital age.
