US secures release of 3 Americans in prisoner swap with China
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Undated photos of Kai Li, Mark Swidan and John Leung. Courtesy Harrison Li, Courtesy Katherine Swidan, From Alliance for China's Peaceful Unification, USA
In a significant diplomatic breakthrough, three Americans who had been detained in China for several years were released as part of a prisoner exchange between the United States and China. Mark Swidan, Kai Li, and John Leung, who had been wrongfully detained, are now back in U.S. custody, awaiting reunion with their families after years of separation.
The announcement was made by a spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council (NSC) on Wednesday. “We are pleased to announce the release of Mark Swidan, Kai Li, and John Leung from detention in the People’s Republic of China,” the spokesperson said. “Soon they will return and be reunited with their families for the first time in many years.”
The release of these detainees is part of a broader diplomatic effort, with the three Americans swapped for unidentified Chinese nationals. This exchange marks a significant moment in U.S.-China relations, just months before President-elect Donald Trump assumes office. The Biden administration had been working behind the scenes to secure the release of these individuals, utilizing quiet diplomacy to pressure Chinese authorities.
Kai Li’s son, Harrison Li, expressed immense relief at the news of his father’s release. In a statement, he said, “We enthusiastically welcome the news that Kai has been released from captivity after just over 3,000 days of wrongful detention.” He extended gratitude to U.S. agencies and individuals, including President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and the National Security Council for their tireless efforts. Harrison Li also thanked U.S. Ambassador to China, Nicholas Burns, who visited his father multiple times during his detention.
Li’s release brings an end to a long saga for the Li family, whose father had been accused of espionage in 2016 and sentenced to ten years in prison. His son had previously expressed fears that he might never see his father again, worried that he could be left to die in a Chinese prison.
The other two Americans involved in the exchange also have their own harrowing stories. Mark Swidan, who had been detained since 2012 on drug-related charges, was sentenced to death in 2019. His mother, Katherine Swidan, had long feared for her son’s life, describing his time in detention as one filled with torture and psychological abuse. Despite his death sentence, Swidan’s release is a ray of hope for his family, who had feared the worst for many years.
John Leung, who was detained in 2021 and sentenced to life in prison on spying charges in 2023, is another individual who has now been freed. Leung is a pro-Beijing activist who has had long-standing connections with senior Chinese government officials. His involvement in pro-Beijing groups led to accusations of espionage, and he had been serving a life sentence in China before his release.
This release comes on the heels of the Biden administration’s ongoing efforts to secure the freedom of wrongfully detained Americans. While similar exchanges have taken place in the past, the release of these three individuals has been hailed as a success of diplomacy. The Biden administration’s commitment to bringing home wrongfully detained Americans has drawn praise from both sides of the political aisle.
Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican from Texas, expressed his gratitude to President Biden, Secretary of State Blinken, and U.S. diplomats involved in securing the release. Cruz, whose constituent, Katherine Swidan, has been advocating for her son’s freedom for years, acknowledged the difficulty of negotiating the release of individuals from foreign countries. “Negotiations aimed at securing the release of unjustly held Americans are among the most difficult and wrenching tasks that our diplomats face,” Cruz said in a statement.
Likewise, Republican House Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul shared his joy at the news of the Americans’ return. He urged the United States and its global partners to stand firm in combating hostage diplomacy, ensuring the safe return of Americans who are wrongfully detained abroad. McCaul also stressed the importance of using diplomatic channels to hold foreign governments accountable for the treatment of detained U.S. citizens.
On the Democratic side, House Foreign Affairs ranking member Gregory Meeks also expressed his support, calling the release a testament to the effectiveness of diplomacy. “This is a moment for all of us to be proud of, as it shows the power of diplomatic efforts in securing the safety and freedom of our citizens,” Meeks said.
In addition to these successful releases, the Biden administration has secured the release of dozens of Americans detained or held hostage abroad in recent years. However, some of these releases, such as that of David Lin in September, were kept quiet to avoid jeopardizing sensitive negotiations.
The Biden administration has been praised for its steady, diplomatic approach to securing the release of Americans from detention abroad, focusing on long-term engagement rather than public declarations. As the country heads into the holiday season, families like those of Li, Swidan, and Leung can finally look forward to reunions that once seemed impossible.
This release of three Americans from China is a significant milestone in U.S. diplomatic efforts and serves as a hopeful sign for the safe return of other wrongfully detained Americans worldwide.
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