The speaker of the Taiwanese legislature has praised Hong Kong media entrepreneur Jimmy Lai as a “true hero” for choosing to stay and take on authorities who are charging him with fraud and collusion with foreign forces to jeopardize national security.

You Si-kun was effusive in his expression of support for the detained defendant, whose image of showing up in court in handcuffs and metal chains earlier this month was a touching sight.

The Legislative Yuan speaker evoked the “Song of Righteousness,” an ancient poem written by Wen Tianxiang of the Song dynasty during his imprisonment, to draw a parallel with Lai’s peaceful demeanor despite the shackles.

“No wonder United States Vice President Mike Pence openly hailed Lai as a hero,” You said. “Indeed, in my heart, Jimmy Lai is a true hero.

“I am the same age as Lai, but we have met only once. I got to know this revered man of courage from his books.”

The Next Digital founder, 73, had been remanded in custody since early December, pending his next court appearance on April 16.

In his books, Lai narrated how his father became bankrupt after escaping from mainland China to Hong Kong, while his mother was purged under the dictatorial Chinese regime and sent to a labor camp. Lai was just eight years old when he started to earn a living for himself and his sisters. Rising from his impoverished childhood, the self-made man built a family, created miracles and made his fortune by establishing media businesses.

Lai was a British passport holder, You noted; he had ample ability and more than enough reason to leave Hong Kong.

“Yet he decided to remain even during Hong Kong’s darkest days, choosing to fight together with his compatriots. Such a fearless man is indeed a ‘true hero’.”

You also said Lai’s plight brought to mind Taiwan’s own experience in the Formosa incident, when the authorities cracked down on pro-democracy protests in Kaohsiung.

The courage and dedication of Lai was also similar to that of a group of 135 people from outside the Kuomintang 35 years ago, who risked their own safety to form a new party at the Grand Hotel Taipei, which built the foundation for the current ruling Democratic Progressive Party.

“History has repeatedly revealed to the world the true face of China’s Communist Party: Tibet’s peace deal triggered a massacre, Xinjiang’s compromises were met with ethnic cleansing and Hong Kong’s ‘one country, two systems’ changed under complete control,” You said.

“What happened to Lai and many other democracy fighters had in fact highlighted the universal values of democracy and human rights. At this moment, it is obligatory for all of us to support Jimmy Lai and the Hong Kong people.”

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