SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Three U.S. citizens freed by China arrived at Joint Base San Antonio on Wednesday, just hours before Thanksgiving, concluding years of diplomatic negotiations over their detentions, local media reported.
The White House confirmed the release of Mark Swidan, Kai Li, and John Leung, describing their detentions as wrongful. Their return marks a breakthrough in protracted talks between Washington and Beijing, which had often been overshadowed by tensions over trade, technology, and security issues.
In a related move, the Biden administration announced an upgrade to its travel advisory for China, easing restrictions in what analysts view as a gesture long sought by Beijing. U.S. officials have previously tied the advisory to China’s practice of detaining foreign nationals, including Americans, often on charges criticized as politically motivated.
Swap reportedly part of deal
According to Politico, which first reported the release, the deal took years to finalize and involved reciprocal actions. In exchange for the Americans’ freedom, a number of Chinese nationals detained in the United States are also expected to be released.
Mark Swidan, a businessman, had been held in China since 2012 on drug-related charges that human rights groups and the United Nations described as baseless. Kai Li, a former New York resident, was detained in 2016 on espionage charges, while John Leung, a dual U.S.-Hong Kong citizen, was arrested in 2021.
Their families and advocacy groups have long campaigned for their release, accusing China of using their detentions as leverage in its diplomatic relations with the United States.
A diplomatic breakthrough
The releases come at a time of cautious engagement between Washington and Beijing. In recent months, high-level meetings between American and Chinese officials have signaled efforts to stabilize relations after years of escalating tensions.
While the White House has not confirmed details of the agreement, the release of the three men has been hailed as a significant achievement for the Biden administration’s diplomatic efforts.
