3 Americans freed in holiday prisoner exchange with China

Three American men held for years successful Chinese prisons person been released successful a captive swap just successful clip for Thanksgiving.

Mark Swidan, Kai Li and John Leung arrived backmost connected U.S. ungraded Wednesday, the National Security Council said successful a statement. All 3 men had spent years down bars successful China and were labeled wrongfully detained by the U.S. government.

Swidan had been successful custody since astatine slightest 2012 and was facing a decease sentence connected charges of cause trafficking. Li was arrested successful 2016 connected espionage charges, portion Leung was sentenced past twelvemonth to beingness successful situation connected akin accusations.

The White House did not denote which prisoners held successful the U.S. would beryllium headed backmost to China. Politico, which archetypal reported the news, lone described the exchange arsenic including “unidentified Chinese citizens successful U.S. custody.”

The speech was reportedly months successful the making, and marked a invited diplomatic statement with Beijing successful the last months of President Biden’s term.

During his clip successful office, Biden has prioritized captive swaps for American citizens detained overseas. That has included aggregate exchanges with Russia, including for WNBA prima Brittney Griner and Wall Street Journal newsman Evan Gershkovich.

Wednesday’s speech was the 2nd U.S.-China captive swap successful conscionable the past 2 months. David Lin, a 68-year-old California man, was released successful September aft 20 years down bars connected a declaration fraud conviction.

With News Wire Services