By Berk Kutay Gokmen
ISTANBUL (AA) - Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai admitted Thursday to facilitating connections between three former US officials and the Taiwanese government to provide advice on foreign relations and bolstering ties with Washington.
Lai, 76, told the West Kowloon Court he paid a former US general to advise former Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen.
The South China Morning Post said Lai indicated that he passed on recommendations from two former US officials to the former Taiwanese president regarding the necessity of modernizing the self-governing island’s military.
Lai is facing charges for “conspiracy to collude with foreign forces,” under Beijing-imposed security legislation, as well as charges for conspiring to publish “seditious” materials as the now defunct Apple Daily founder.
If convicted, he may face life in prison.
His trial began Dec. 18, 2023.
Lai has pleaded not guilty to two charges of colluding with foreign forces, as well as a sedition charge.