Three American citizens who had been detained in China have been released, according to a State Department spokesperson. They are Mark Swidan, Kai Li, and John Leung. Li, a 70-year-old from Long Island, New York, was sentenced to 10 years in 2018 on espionage charges his family says are baseless. Swidan, a Texas businessman, had been sentenced to death with a reprieve in 2019 on drug-related charges that were deemed to have no evidential basis by a United Nations working group. Leung, an American in his 70s with permanent residency in Hong Kong, was sentenced to life in prison last year on espionage charges.
The families of the three freed Americans expressed gratitude for their upcoming reunions, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer working closely with Li’s son to advocate for his release. The news of their release follows the surprising release of American pastor David Lin in September.
The announcement of their release follows ongoing efforts by the Biden administration to address Americans detained in China, with families pressing for their loved ones’ safe return. The slow progress had frustrated families, including Li’s son who highlighted his father’s deteriorating health while in detention.
The families of other Americans still held in China continue to wait for their loved ones to return. The Dui Hua Foundation estimates approximately 200 American detainees in China, with the State Department classifying only a handful as wrongfully detained. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has not yet responded to requests for comment.
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