IRIA News

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In a high-profile diplomatic breakthrough, three Americans detained were freed from Chinese prisons in exchange for Chinese citizens held in U.S. custody. This prisoner exchange between Washington and Beijing took place after months of diplomatic engagement.

On the Chinese side, one of the notable detainees released was Xu Yanjun, an alleged Chinese intelligence officer convicted in the U.S. for economic espionage and sentenced to 20 years in 2022. Xu was the first Chinese official extradited to the U.S. for prosecution. His release underscores the complex negotiations between the two superpowers.

Ji Chaoqun, a former Illinois Institute of Technology student who spied on 8 US scientists and engineers, has been released as a part of the deal. Ji allegedly worked closely with Xu Yanjun to access the economic secrets of GE Aviation. Xu and Ji were due to be released in 2035 and 2025 respectively.

26-year-old Jin Shanlin was also freed from the U.S. prison as part of the swap deal. Jin pleaded guilty in 2021 to possessing child pornography. During his 2021 trial in Texas, an FBI special agent testified that his family was “connected to influential members of the Communist party in China”, according to court records.

U.S. citizen Mark Swidan, 48, was imprisoned in China since 2012 and faced a death sentence for alleged narcotics trafficking. Swidan denied the charges, and his case was labeled as “wrongfully detained” by the U.S. State Department, which had repeatedly expressed concerns about his health.

Kai Li, a 60-year-old American citizen, was arrested in 2016 and accused of espionage, charges that advocates argued were politically motivated. John Leung, 78, a leader of pro-Beijing groups in the U.S., was detained in 2021 and later sentenced to life in prison on espionage charges.

The exchange follows diplomatic efforts by senior U.S. and Chinese officials. China’s foreign ministry said its three citizens had been wrongfully detained by the U.S. and were safely returned home through the “tireless efforts of the Chinese government”. 

“This once again demonstrates that China will never abandon its compatriots under any circumstances, and the motherland will always be their strong support,” said foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning on Thursday.

This deal is the latest in a series of efforts by the Biden administration to repatriate Americans detained abroad. Over the past four years, Biden has overseen the return of more than 70 individuals, including those held in Russia, Venezuela, and Iran.

The administration’s strategy often involves controversial prisoner swaps, drawing both praise for prioritizing American lives and criticism for potentially incentivizing hostage-taking by authoritarian regimes.

In conjunction with the swap, the U.S. State Department lowered its travel advisory for mainland China to Level 2, urging citizens to “exercise increased caution.” This adjustment highlights ongoing concerns over the risks faced by Americans in China.

The case also aligns with broader trends in U.S.-China relations. Previous incidents, such as the 2021 release of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou by Canada and the concurrent release of two Canadians detained in China, illustrate how Beijing uses detained foreigners as leverage in diplomatic disputes. The successful negotiation for Swidan, Li, and Leung marks a rare instance of reciprocal prisoner exchanges between the two countries.

The Biden administration’s handling of these cases has faced scrutiny from some lawmakers. Critics argue that such exchanges may encourage authoritarian governments to target Americans. Despite these concerns, the resolution of these detentions marks a significant step in U.S.-China diplomacy, providing relief to the families of those involved and showcasing the administration’s commitment to bringing detained Americans home.