Three American citizens who were imprisoned in China have been released and are returning to the United States, according to the White House. This rare diplomatic agreement between the United States and China comes in the final months of the Biden administration. In return, the Chinese government announced that the U.S. has returned four individuals to China. These include at least three Chinese citizens who were held for political purposes and one person who was sought by Beijing for crimes and had been living in the United States. The identities of the four individuals were not disclosed.
The three Americans who were released by China are Mark Swidan, Kai Li, and John Leung. Swidan was facing a death sentence on drug charges, while Li and Leung were imprisoned on espionage charges. The White House stated that these individuals will soon be reunited with their families after many years of separation.
This development follows the recent release of David Lin, a Christian pastor from California, who had been imprisoned in China for nearly 20 years on charges of contract fraud. The release of Americans wrongfully detained in China has been a key focus in the discussions between the U.S. and China. This latest move indicates a willingness on the part of Beijing to engage with the outgoing Democratic administration before the transition to the incoming Republican administration.
The relationship between the U.S. and China has been strained over various issues, including trade, human rights, security concerns, and Beijing’s support for Russia’s military-industrial sector. Despite these challenges, there have been efforts to maintain a dialogue between the two countries. President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping recently met to discuss potential improvements in their relationship.
In a related development, the State Department has lowered its travel warning to China, advising U.S. citizens to exercise increased caution when traveling to the mainland. The warning had previously urged Americans to reconsider travel to China due to the risk of wrongful detention. While the alert has been downgraded, it still highlights the potential risks faced by U.S. citizens in China.
The release of the detained Americans has been praised by senators from both political parties. Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas expressed his joy at the news and credited senior Biden administration officials for their efforts. Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who had been working to secure the release of one of the individuals, welcomed the positive outcome.
Overall, the release of the three Americans from Chinese custody marks a significant diplomatic achievement and a step towards improving relations between the two countries. It also underscores the importance of ongoing dialogue and engagement in addressing key issues and promoting mutual understanding.
