Editor's note: CGTN's First Voice provides instant commentary on breaking stories. The daily column clarifies emerging issues and better defines the news agenda, offering a Chinese perspective on the latest global events. Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, founder of Apple Daily and media group Next Digital, was arrested on Friday morning for illegal assembly and allegedly intimidating a journalist in June 2017, according to Hong Kong media reports. Although he was later released on bail in the afternoon, it shows that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government will not tolerate any provocation of violence at the expense of the people of Hong Kong.

Jimmy Lai, widely known as one of Hong Kong's "Gang of Four," incited an unlawful march against the government, causing severe damage to Hong Kong's peace and prosperity during months-long anti-government riots that were sparked in June due to a now-withdrawn fugitive bill. He is widely seen by many as a political tool for foreign forces to fight against China. In July 2019, he met with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo amid violent Hong Kong riots. He spoke to Bloomberg News to spread fears, saying "China would have little choice but to intervene using forces" which tries to parallel HKSAR's status with that of China and demonize the measures to stabilize the chaotic situation in Hong Kong. Tang Dynasty poet Du Fu once wrote: "Before a horseman, shoot his horse; capture the chief to beat his force." This means, only by capturing the ringleaders of Hong Kong riots can final peace in the city be eventually ensured. As the investigation goes on, more evidence have emerged that violent Hong Kong riots were plotted together by both foreign forces and their puppets in Hong Kong. Dr. Michael Parenti, political scientist at Yale University, wrote in his book, "Inventing Reality: The Politics of News Media" published in 1986, that several U.S. mainstream media play the role for the U.S. government and the CIA to exaggerate the reality and magnify the crisis in foreign countries by using several means. These means include editing news for an intentional purpose, expressing views in an unjust way, abusing the writing styles, and embellishing particular words to disguise reality. As an example, many U.S. and Hong Kong journalists often shape public awareness and attitudes through distortion or suppression of specific information. His distortion did not stop with the riots last year. It continued into this year's ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. In the infamous Wall Street Journal, Lai wrote an article titled "China's Facade of Stability" to denounce efforts made by the Chinese government in battling against the COVID-19 on February 19.

A screenshoot of Jimmy Lai's article via Wall Street Journal website. A screenshoot of Jimmy Lai's article via Wall Street Journal website.