Official statements from the U.S. Department of State

Americans Swidan, Li, Leung Freed in U.S.-China Prisoner Swap Involving Two Chinese Spies

Nov 27, 2024, 02:50 PM

The United States has secured the release of three American citizens—Mark Swidan, Kai Li, and John Leung—who were imprisoned in China for years, through a rare prisoner exchange with Beijing. The three men had been designated by the U.S. government as wrongfully detained. Mark Swidan, a Texas resident held for over a decade on baseless charges and facing a death sentence, had endured harsh conditions that endangered his health. Kai Li, from Long Island, and John Leung, reportedly a former FBI informant, were also imprisoned on disputed charges. In exchange for their release, the U.S. freed two Chinese citizens held in U.S. custody, identified as spies, including Xu Yanjun, a Chinese intelligence officer convicted of espionage. The deal concludes years of intensive diplomatic efforts between U.S. and Chinese officials and marks a significant achievement in the final months of the Biden administration. All Americans previously designated as wrongfully detained in China are now free and will soon be reunited with their families.