China Releases U.S. Citizens Mark Swidan, Kai Li, and John Leung After Years of Diplomacy

WASHINGTON, Nov 27 – China has released three U.S. citizens—Mark Swidan, Kai Li, and John Leung—following years of diplomatic efforts by the Biden administration. The White House confirmed their release on Wednesday, marking the end of a prolonged period of negotiations regarding what Washington considers the wrongful detention of these Americans in China.

The National Security Council stated that the release of these three individuals means that all Americans deemed wrongfully detained in China by the U.S. government have now been freed. This development comes after extensive behind-the-scenes diplomacy aimed at securing the release of individuals caught in the complex political and legal dynamics between the U.S. and China.

The Biden administration also took the opportunity to upgrade its travel advisory for China on Wednesday, a move that had been long requested by Beijing but is also being tied by U.S. officials to the issue of American nationals being detained in China. This shift in the travel advisory is seen as part of the broader context of U.S.-China relations, which have been marked by tensions over issues ranging from trade to human rights and the treatment of foreign nationals.

The release of Swidan, Li, and Leung follows a pattern of diplomatic engagements aimed at resolving the situation of several U.S. citizens who have been detained in China under unclear or contentious circumstances. This release is expected to ease some of the diplomatic tensions between the two countries, though the broader relationship remains complicated due to ongoing geopolitical disputes.