The United States and China successfully carried out a prisoner exchange, with each country releasing three individuals.
This deal was the result of months of negotiations by the Biden administration, and all three Americans detained in China—Mark Swidan, Kai Li, and John Leung—are now returning home to their families, according to the National Security Council (NSC).
The swap also saw three Chinese nationals released from U.S. custody. China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, confirmed their return and accused the U.S. of politically targeting Chinese citizens.
The exchange represents a significant diplomatic breakthrough for President Biden, who raised the issue with President Xi Jinping earlier this month during the APEC summit in Peru, a move highlighted by BBC reports.
Among the Americans freed was Mark Swidan, who had been detained since 2012 and sentenced to death in China over drug charges he denied. The U.S. had classified him as wrongfully detained, citing concerns about his health.
Another detainee, Kai Li, was accused of espionage in 2016, and John Leung, a pro-Beijing activist, had been sentenced to life in prison for spying in 2021.
On the Chinese side, Xu Yanjun, a government intelligence officer convicted of espionage in the U.S., is believed to have been one of the three freed.
Xu had made headlines as the first Chinese official extradited to the U.S. for trial, according to BBC’s sources.
This prisoner swap is part of Biden’s broader effort to secure the release of wrongfully detained Americans, adding to his administration’s record of freeing over 70 U.S. citizens from countries like Russia, Venezuela, and Iran during his presidency.
It also reflects the evolving dynamics of U.S.-China relations, with the deal coinciding with the U.S. lowering its travel warning for mainland China to a less severe Level 2 advisory, as noted by the BBC.
Credit : BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly2lp75vq4o