China releases 3 ‘wrongfully detained’ Americans, White House says

China to Release Three Americans Wrongfully Detained

China is releasing three Americans Wednesday who the White House says were “wrongfully detained,” Fox News has confirmed.

“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 National Security Council spokesperson said. “Soon they will return and be reunited with their families for the first time in many years. Thanks to this Administration’s efforts and diplomacy with the PRC, all of the wrongfully detained Americans in the PRC are home.”

Mark Swidan’s Story

Mark Swidan, a 38-year-old from Texas, traveled to China on business in search of flooring for construction work in November 2012. He was arrested after his driver and translator were allegedly found with drugs, as reported by the Texas Tribune.

A United Nations report revealed that Swidan was not in possession of drugs on his person or in his hotel room, and records showed he was not in China at the time of the alleged offense.

The U.N. report also stated that the other individuals arrested with Swidan were unable to identify him, and his conviction was based on his visit to a factory that had previously manufactured methamphetamine.

His mother, Katherine Swidan, has been advocating for his release and expressed her desire for President Biden to intervene in the matter.

Kai Li’s Detention

Kai Li, detained in China since September 2016 on politically motivated charges of espionage and stealing state secrets, is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence at Shanghai’s Qingpu Prison. His son, Harrison Li, has been campaigning for his father’s release.

The website dedicated to raising awareness for Kai Li’s case highlighted the unjust nature of his detention and the lack of access to him outside of prison.

John Leung’s Espionage Charges

John Leung, with permanent residency in Hong Kong, was sentenced on espionage charges in 2023. He was initially detained in April 2021 and has been involved in charity work supporting low-income elderly individuals and students in Jiangsu province.

A friend of Leung mentioned his contributions to organizing tours between the U.S. and China for musicians, emphasizing his positive impact in the community.

Overall, the release of these Americans marks a significant victory for diplomacy and human rights advocacy, bringing an end to their wrongful detention in China.

Fox News’ Kate Sprague, Andrew Mark Miller and Kristine Parks contributed to this report.