By Catholic News Service
Hong Kong - Catholic media tycoon and philanthropist Jimmy Lai (click here) has been sentenced to 12 months in jail after being found guilty of unauthorised assembly.
Ucanews.com reported he was among nine activists in court on April 16 who earlier were found guilty of charges relating to pro-democracy demonstrations in the Chinese territory.
Lai, 73, has donated millions of dollars to Catholic causes and has been the biggest financial backer of Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, retired archbishop of Hong Kong, ucanews.com reported.
He made his fortune through mid-market fashion chain Giordano before putting his wealth into NextDigital and the city’s leading anti-Beijing newspaper, Apple Daily.
Lai’s jailing comes as the Chinese Communist Party intensifies its crackdown on Hong Kong’s rights and freedoms.
In mid-April, Apple Daily published a handwritten letter by Lai, sent from prison, which read: “It is our responsibility as journalists to seek justice. As long as we are not blinded by unjust temptations, as long as we do not let evil get its way through us, we are fulfilling our responsibility.”
Speaking to the BBC before the hearing, Lai said that even if he were to be imprisoned, he would still be “living my life meaningfully”.
“I came here with one dollar. I got everything I have because of this place. If this is the payback time, this is my redemption,” he said.
Lai, who was born in mainland China but was smuggled into Hong Kong as a child, faced eight charges in court, two of which were imposed under the new national security law and can carry a maximum term of life in prison....
Twenty-five Chinese warplanes (click here) entered Taiwan's air defense identification zone on Monday, the self-ruled island's Defense Ministry said, the latest in a series of aerial incursions by China.
The Chinese activity was likely a response to closer ties being forged between the United States and Taiwan. The United States said Friday it has issued new guidelines to encourage US government engagement with Taiwan, with which it has no diplomatic ties.
The warplanes involved in the intrusion included 14 J-16 fighter jets and four H-6K bombers, according to the Taiwan ministry. China sent 15 planes into Taiwan's air defense identification zone on Wednesday and 11 on Friday....
