3 Americans released in prisoner swap in China now back in US
Three American citizens, Mark Swidan, Kai Li, and John Leung, have returned to the United States after being released from years of detention in China. Their arrival was confirmed by a US official, stating that they came back through Lackland Air Force Base, part of Joint Base San Antonio in Texas.
A spokesperson for the National Security Council noted that the three Americans are now en route to reunite with their families after a long separation. The US government has classified Mark Swidan and Kai Li as being “wrongly detained” by the Chinese authorities.
As part of the prisoner swap, it is reported that one of the individuals released from China may be Xu Yanjun, an intelligence officer from China’s Ministry of State Security. Another individual, Ji Chaoqun, a Chinese American who gained citizenship through military service, was also mentioned in connection with the exchange.
John Kamm, founder of the Dui Hua Foundation, a human rights organization in San Francisco, commented on the situation, stating that the move appears to be a gesture towards easing relations, indicating potential concessions could come in the future.
Xu Yanjun is noted to be serving a 20-year sentence after his arrest in Brussels back in 2018, followed by his extradition to the United States. This operation was carried out by the FBI as part of a significant investigation.
Earlier in November, during a global summit held in Peru, President Joe Biden engaged in discussions with Chinese leader Xi Jinping regarding the possibility of a prisoner exchange. This move marks a continuation of high-level diplomatic efforts to resolve the situation of American detainees in China.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also played a crucial role, having contacted the three Americans while returning to Washington from a diplomatic trip to Rome. Throughout earlier diplomatic meetings, he has consistently urged his Chinese counterpart on the importance of releasing individuals deemed wrongfully detained.
According to reports from the White House, President Biden’s administration has successfully facilitated the return of over 70 Americans considered wrongfully detained abroad.
