China Releases Three Wrongly Detained Americans
China is releasing three Americans on Wednesday, according to a National Security Council spokesperson, who stated that all Americans wrongfully detained in China are now home.
One of the released individuals, Mark Swidan, has been detained in China for over 10 years, after being arrested in November 2012 on drug charges. A United Nations report determined that the allegations against him were not legitimate, and he was unable to be identified by others arrested as part of an alleged trafficking ring.
Mark’s mother, Katherine, had previously called on President Biden to demand her son’s release, saying “He is not well at all. He’s lost 100 pounds.” Katherine had also expressed her disappointment that her son’s detainment had gone on for so long.
Kai Li, another American detained in China, was stopped at Shanghai Pudong Airport in 2016 while traveling for a memorial service for his own mother. He was charged with espionage and stealing state secrets, and has been held in prison for over six years.
John Leung, who has permanent residency in Hong Kong, was detained in April 2021 and sentenced to imprisonment on espionage charges in 2023. According to a friend, Leung was involved in charity work and had organized tours for musicians between the US and China.
The releases have been hailed as a positive development, with the US Administration’s efforts and diplomacy with China credited with achieving the release of all US citizens wrongfully detained in China.