US and China have executed a significant diplomatic breakthrough, leading to the release of three Americans who had been detained in China for several years. According to CNN, the prisoner swap deal saw the exchange of the American nationals for unidentified Chinese citizens held in US custody. Following the swap, Washington downgraded its travel advisory for mainland China to Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution.
“We are pleased to announce the release of Mark Swidan, Kai Li, and John Leung from detention in the People’s Republic of China,” a spokesperson for the US National Security Council said on Wednesday. “They will soon be reunited with their families for the first time in many years.”
The spokesperson credited President Joe Biden’s administration and diplomatic efforts for securing the release, highlighting its success in bringing home all Americans wrongfully detained in China. The agreement comes just weeks before President-elect Donald Trump is set to take office.
Among the released Americans, Kai Li and Mark Swidan had been officially designated as wrongfully detained by the US State Department. In a statement, Kai Li’s son, Harrison Li, celebrated the end of his father’s 3,000-day detention.
“We enthusiastically welcome Kai’s release,” Harrison wrote, expressing gratitude to President Biden, the National Security Council, and the State Department for their relentless efforts. He also thanked US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns, who visited his father three times, and the US Consulate in Shanghai for ensuring his father’s well-being during his detention.
Harrison urged the administration to continue its efforts to secure the release of other Americans wrongfully detained abroad, emphasizing the urgency as Biden’s term nears its end.
The prisoner swap drew bipartisan support, with both Republican and Democratic lawmakers lauding the development. Republican Senator Ted Cruz, often a critic of the Biden administration, praised the diplomatic achievement. Swidan’s mother, a Texas resident, is part of Cruz’s constituency.
“President Biden and his team have worked tirelessly for years to secure this outcome. Their dedication is commendable,” Cruz said in a statement. He acknowledged the complexities of negotiating such releases and celebrated the reunion of the three Americans with their families.
This swap marks another milestone in the Biden administration’s efforts to bring home wrongfully detained Americans, following the release of American citizen David Lin earlier this year. The sensitive negotiations, conducted discreetly, highlight the ongoing challenges and triumphs in US diplomacy.
