Three American prisoners in China finally released after years in captivity | Breaking News
According to NBC News, three American citizens who had been detained in China for years have finally been released. They are Mark Swidan, Kai Li, and John Leung, as confirmed by a State Department spokesperson.
After years of attempts to secure their release, Politico had earlier reported that the trio was set free in exchange for unidentified Chinese citizens in US custody. The details of this agreement are part of sensitive negotiations that have not been publicly announced yet.
A State Department spokesperson stated, “We are pleased to announce the release of Mark Swidan, Kai Li, and John Leung from detention in the People’s Republic of China. Soon they will return and be reunited with their families for the first time in many years. Thanks to this administration’s efforts and diplomacy with the PRC, all of the wrongfully detained Americans in the PRC are home.”
Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer expressed his relief at the news, mentioning his collaboration with Li’s son to advocate for his father’s release over the years. He emphasized the importance of perseverance and never giving up hope for Li’s return home.
Following the surprise release of US pastor David Lin in September, who had been in Chinese jail since 2006, the US State Department also welcomed his return to the United States after nearly two decades of separation from his family.
While Washington maintained that the three recently released Americans were wrongfully detained, China insisted that all such cases were handled in accordance with the law.
