In a significant diplomatic move, three Americans held in China have been released as part of a prisoner exchange for three Chinese nationals incarcerated in the United States. This development follows negotiations led by the Biden administration to facilitate the swap.
On Wednesday, a spokesperson for the National Security Council (NSC) announced that Mark Swidan, Kai Li, and John Leung are returning to the United States.
“The statement indicated that a reunion with their families is imminent after many years apart.”
Chinese authorities confirmed on Wednesday that the exchange had been in the works for several months and involved the release of three Chinese citizens held in US custody.
“The Chinese Government’s persistent efforts have led to the safe return of three Chinese citizens who the United States wrongfully detained,” stated Mao Ning, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, in a statement released on Wednesday.
“China has consistently expressed its strong opposition to the suppression and persecution of its nationals by the United States for political reasons,” she stated.
During a recent meeting at the APEC summit in Peru, President Biden addressed the matter of Americans who are wrongfully detained in China with President Xi Jinping, as confirmed by an American official knowledgeable about the discussions. During his visit to China in August, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan emphasized the importance of their return.
The spokesperson for the National Security Council stated, “Thanks to this Administration’s efforts and diplomacy with the PRC, all of the wrongfully detained Americans in the PRC are home.”
Mr. Swidan, 48, has been in custody since 2012 and was sentenced to death following a conviction for narcotics trafficking. Swidan has refuted the allegations against him, while the State Department has designated him as wrongfully detained, expressing prior concerns regarding his health condition.
Mark Li, aged 60, has been detained in China since September 2016, facing allegations of espionage that activists claim are unfounded.
At 78 years old, John Leung has taken the helm of multiple pro-Beijing organizations in the United States. In 2021, he was taken into custody and subsequently received a life sentence for espionage two years afterward.
Multiple US officials have reportedly discussed the potential release of Xu Yanjun, a 42-year-old Chinese citizen. Xu was convicted on espionage charges in the US two years prior and is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence. The Justice Department announced that Xu had become the first Chinese government intelligence officer to be extradited to the United States for trial.
On Wednesday morning, Xu was recorded in the Bureau of Prisons system as “not in BOP custody.”
This agreement represents a significant diplomatic achievement for President Biden as he approaches the conclusion of his term in office.
The announcement comes on the heels of the release of another American deemed wrongfully detained: David Lin, a pastor who spent time in a Chinese prison from 2006 until his release in September.
Throughout his four-year tenure in the White House, President Biden facilitated the release of over 70 Americans, with notable cases involving individuals from Russia, Venezuela, and Iran.
On Wednesday, the United States adjusted its travel advisory for mainland China, now categorizing it as Level 2: Exercise increased caution.
