In a gripping continuation of his national security trial, former media executive Jimmy Lai Chee-ying has denied claims of acting on behalf of foreign entities while admitting to advocating for sanctions against the children of Chinese officials. This development occurred during his 30th and 31st days of testifying at West Kowloon Court, where Lai faced charges of collusion with foreign forces under the contentious national security law and conspiracy to distribute seditious publications.

On Tuesday, Lai responded to accusations of stirring unrest in Hong Kong at the behest of James Cunningham, a former U.S. consul general, asserting that he did not rely on Cunningham for advice. However, he did reveal that he instructed his now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper to report Washington’s concerns about a controversial extradition bill that had precipitated the city's protests in 2019. According to South China Morning Post, Lai acknowledged his eagerness to seek U.S. support but firmly denied any direct manipulations of the newspaper's editorial policies, claiming he was not positioned to do so.

Furthermore, the prosecution emphasized a pivotal meeting where former chief secretary Anson Chan Fang On-sang conversed with then U.S. Vice President Mike Pence regarding the implications of the extradition bill. Lai admitted to directing Apple Daily to cover Chan’s American visit prominently, which the prosecution suggested illustrated his interference in the tabloid’s editorial stance.

In a later session on Wednesday, Lai further implicated himself by admitting to urging the U.S. to revoke student visas for the children of Chinese officials as a part of broader sanction measures. He noted that Mary Kissel, an advisor to then Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, had initially proposed this idea during his visit to Washington in July 2019. Lai's assertiveness in pushing for such measures intensified as the introduction of the national security law loomed. He asserted that these proposed sanctions aimed at the children of officials did not constitute true sanctions, despite admitting to a more aggressive stance during this period, as reported by South China Morning Post.

Throughout his testimony, Lai conveyed efforts to involve U.S. lawmakers in investigating the police's actions during the anti-government protests and sought a concerted international response to the rising tensions in Hong Kong. Although he distanced himself from certain delegations and initiatives led by U.S. politicians, he maintained a close relationship with various American political figures, which also included messaging with Trump’s administration regarding the characterization of the Hong Kong protests.

The trial, which is continuously evolving, will resume on Thursday, as prosecutors pursue their aim of demonstrating Lai's connections and alleged conspiracy against the Hong Kong government.