Three Americans, Mark Swidan, Kai Li, and John Leung, have been released after years of imprisonment in China, as announced by the White House on Wednesday. These individuals had been classified by the U.S. government as wrongfully detained. A plane carrying them landed at a military base in San Antonio, Texas, late Wednesday night, marking their return to the United States and their imminent reunion with their families for the first time in many years.
In response, China's foreign ministry stated that three Chinese citizens "wrongly detained by the United States" were also released and returned to China. Additionally, a fugitive sought by Beijing for crimes and residing in the U.S. was sent back to China.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken shared on social media that he spoke with the three Americans during their journey home just in time for Thanksgiving. He expressed his relief at their good health and anticipated reunions with loved ones.
The Biden administration has consistently addressed the issue of wrongfully detained Americans with Chinese officials. President Biden discussed this matter with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Lima, Peru, earlier in November. Furthermore, Secretary Blinken and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan engaged with Foreign Minister Wang Yi over several meetings to secure these releases.
A spokesperson for the National Security Council highlighted that due to diplomatic efforts by this administration with China (PRC), all wrongfully detained Americans have now returned home.
Swidan, a 48-year-old businessman from Texas, had been on death row in China since 2012 after being accused of narcotics trafficking. He consistently denied the charges, which the U.S. government described as fabricated. The State Department classified him as wrongly detained and expressed concerns about his health. Earlier this year, his family feared he might harm himself while imprisoned.
Li, aged 60, had been incarcerated in China since September 2016 and suffered a stroke during his imprisonment, according to John Kamm, executive director of the Dui Hua Foundation—a human rights organization advocating for the release of detainees in China.
Leung, 78, was arrested in 2021 and sentenced to life imprisonment for espionage in May 2023. Details about his case remain scarce.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer credited President Biden's direct engagement with President Xi for securing the release of all three men. "For the families of those Americans newly freed by the Chinese government, this Thanksgiving there is so much to be thankful for," Schumer stated.
Additionally, David Lin, a 68-year-old American pastor who had been imprisoned on fraud charges for 18 years, was released by China in September.