Three American citizens who had been detained in China have been released, according to a State Department spokesperson. The individuals, Mark Swidan, Kai Li, and John Leung, had been facing imprisonment on charges that their families claim were baseless. Li, 70, from Long Island, New York, was sentenced to 10 years in 2018 on espionage charges, Swidan, a Texas businessman, had been detained since 2012 and was sentenced to death with a reprieve in 2019 on drug-related charges, and Leung, an American in his 70s, was sentenced to life in prison last year for espionage. The families of the three men are looking forward to their return and reuniting after many years apart.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who worked closely with Li’s son Harrison Li to advocate for his release, expressed his excitement for Mr. Li’s return to New York. The news was first reported by Politico and follows the surprise release of American pastor David Lin in September, whom the U.S. had also classified as wrongfully detained. The Dui Hua Foundation estimates that there are about 200 American detainees in China. The Biden administration had raised the issue of detained Americans in talks with Chinese officials, including a meeting between President Biden and President Xi Jinping. Family members of the three released Americans had been frustrated by the slow progress, with some appearing before Congress to urge the administration to do more. Other families are still waiting for the return of loved ones detained in China.
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