Three Americans Detained in China Released and Headed Home
The US Department of State announced on Wednesday that three American citizens, Li, Swidan, and Leung, who were detained in China, have been released and are safely on their way back to the United States. Li, 70, was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2018 on espionage charges that his family claims are baseless. Swidan, a Texas businessman, was sentenced to death with a reprieve in 2019 on drug-related charges that a United Nations working group said had no evidential basis. Leung, an American in his 70s with permanent residency in Hong Kong, was sentenced to life in prison last year on espionage charges.
The release comes after months of negotiations between the US and Chinese governments. The White House has not confirmed whether any prisoners were exchanged in the deal. The families of the released Americans are overjoyed and grateful for their loved ones’ safe return.
The news is a welcome relief for the families of all three freed Americans, who have been advocating for their release for years. The US Department of State classifies only a handful of American detainees in China as wrongfully detained, while Beijing claims all cases are handled in accordance with the law.
The release of the three Americans brings the total number of US citizens released from Chinese detention to four, including American pastor David Lin, who was released in September. The Dui Hua Foundation estimates that there are around 200 American detainees in China, more than in any other foreign country.