In a statement following the ruling against Hong Kong media magnate Jimmy Lai, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) expressed deep concern, characterizing the sentence as a dark day for press freedom. The organization's director, Thibaut Bruttin, urged democratic nations like the UK and the US to prioritize human rights over their diplomatic relations with China. Bruttin insisted that there should be intensified pressure on the Chinese regime and the Hong Kong authorities to secure the release of Lai and other journalists detained under the national security law.

Lai was sentenced to 20 years in prison for national security crimes, a ruling that has sparked international condemnation. Western leaders have called for his release, viewing the sentence as a symbolic attack on press freedom and a stark illustration of the ongoing decline in media independence in Hong Kong. Human rights organizations described Lai's sentence as effectively a death sentence for freedom of expression in the region, highlighting the chilling effect of such rulings on journalists and public discourse.

Lai, the founder of the now-banned newspaper Apple Daily, was found guilty on multiple charges including colluding with foreign forces—an accusation rooted in the controversial national security law imposed by Beijing. This law has led to a crackdown on dissenting voices and has been criticized for undermining the freedoms previously guaranteed in Hong Kong. The implications of Lai's sentencing extend beyond his personal circumstances, representing a broader strategy by the Chinese government to eliminate independent journalism and suppress democratic freedoms in Hong Kong and beyond.