Three Americans released in US-China prisoner exchange
Three Americans detained in China were released following negotiations by the Biden administration for a prisoner exchange.
Mark Swidan, Kai Li, and John Leung are now en route back to the United States, a National Security Council (NSC) spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday.
“Soon, they will return home and reunite with their families after many years,” the statement added.
The swap, which was reportedly months in the making, also involved the release of at least one Chinese national held in the U.S.
President Biden raised the issue of Americans wrongfully detained in China during a meeting with President Xi Jinping at the APEC summit in Peru earlier this month, according to an American official familiar with the discussions. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan also advocated for their release during his visit to China in August.
“Thanks to the Administration’s efforts and diplomacy with the PRC, all of the wrongfully detained Americans are now back home,” the NSC spokesperson said.
The swap was first reported by Politico.
Mr Swidan, 48, had been detained since 2012 and was facing the death penalty after a conviction for narcotics trafficking. Swidan denied the charges and the State Department classified him as wrongfully detained, previously raising concerns about his health.
Mark Li, 60, had been held in China since September 2016 on what activists say were trumped-up spying charges.
John Leung, 78, has lead several pro-Beijing groups in the US. He was arrested in 2021 and sentenced to life in prison on espionage charges two years later.
According to the New York Times, multiple US officials said they had discussed releasing Chinese citizen Xu Yanjun, 42, who was convicted in the US on espionage charges two years ago and sentenced to 20 years in prison. Xu was first Chinese government intelligence officer ever to be extradited to the US to stand trial, the Justice Department said.
As of Wednesday morning, Xu was listed in the Bureau of Prisons system as “not in BOP custody”.
The deal marks a diplomatic win for Biden in the final months of his presidency.
It follows the release of another American considered wrongfully detained: David Lin, a pastor who had been jailed in China from 2006 until his release in September.
During his four years in the White House, Biden oversaw the release of more than 70 Americans, including from Russia, Venezuela and Iran.
On Wednesday, the US also lowered its travel advisory level for mainland China to Level 2: Exercise increased caution.
