Trump Reveals Political Prisoner Releases Were Discussed During Recent Meeting With Xi Jinping

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he discussed the release of political prisoners with Chinese President Xi Jinping during their meeting last week, including cases involving US citizens detained in China. Trump made the comments when asked whether he had raised the issue of people such as Myanmar scholar and US citizen Min Zin and Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai. “I did with President Xi. I did,” Trump told reporters, adding that the two leaders had held what he described as “very, very important discussions” and expressing hope that they would prove fruitful. Trump and Xi met in Washington on September 24 during Xi’s state visit to the United States.

Ahead of the visit, the White House had indicated that Trump was expected to raise cases involving Americans and others it considered wrongfully detained in China. The White House’s public summary of the summit listed discussions on several international and bilateral issues, including Iran, Russia, North Korea, trade, critical minerals and emerging technologies, but did not provide details of individual prisoner cases. One case Trump was asked about was that of Min Zin, a US citizen and scholar of Myanmar politics who was detained by Chinese authorities in June. Washington formally designated him as wrongfully detained in August.

His wife, Sylvia Zin, had publicly appealed to Trump before Xi’s visit, asking the US president to seek her husband’s release. The case had become a focus of congressional and diplomatic attention ahead of the Chinese leader’s arrival in Washington. Trump was also asked about Jimmy Lai, the Hong Kong-based media tycoon and founder of the now-shuttered Apple Daily newspaper. Lai has been held in Hong Kong in a case that has drawn international criticism and wider concern over the territory’s national security laws. He was sentenced in February to 20 years in prison after being convicted on two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one count related to publishing seditious material, according to the information provided for the case.

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The United States has repeatedly raised concerns about his detention. The US president has made securing the release of Americans detained overseas a stated priority, including during his dealings with China. However, Trump's comments did not indicate whether the conversation with Xi included broader human-rights issues involving Tibet, the Uyghur population or China's ethnic-unity policies. The White House had not publicly specified the scope of Trump's planned human-rights discussions with Xi before the state visit. The lack of detail also leaves unclear whether any commitments were reached concerning the individuals whose cases Trump referenced. The discussion of political prisoners came against the backdrop of a broader effort by Washington and Beijing to manage their relationship through high-level engagement.

During Xi’s visit, the two governments announced or discussed measures involving trade, investment, critical minerals and other areas of cooperation, while disagreements remained over several geopolitical issues. The White House said the two leaders agreed to establish a bilateral dialogue on so-called “super intelligence” and continue discussions on strategic stability. Trump did not provide details about what Xi said in response to the prisoner issue or identify any specific release commitments resulting from their conversation. His comments therefore establish that the subject was raised, but do not indicate that any detainees have been released or that China has agreed to take specific action. The cases of Min Zin and Jimmy Lai are likely to remain closely watched as Washington and Beijing continue diplomatic engagement following the September summit.

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