Official announcements from the U.S. State Department or the White House

U.S. Secures Release of Wrongfully Detained Americans Swidan, Li, and Leung in China Prisoner Swap

Nov 27, 2024, 02:20 PM

The United States has secured the release of three Americans wrongfully detained in China—Mark Swidan, Kai Li, and John Leung—through a prisoner exchange involving unidentified Chinese citizens held in U.S. custody. The Biden administration announced that the release is the result of years of intensive diplomatic efforts between White House and State Department officials and their Chinese counterparts. The three men had been imprisoned in China for years, and their release will allow them to reunite with their families.