In a historic prisoner swap, the Biden administration has secured the release of three American men from Chinese custody, including an F.B.I. informant and two others wrongfully detained or convicted on espionage charges. This diplomatic win comes in the final months of President Biden’s presidency.
The Biden administration has negotiated a prisoner swap with China for the release of three American men, including one who had been an F.B.I. informant.
Background on the Released Individuals
-
Mark Swidan, 48, was detained since 2012 and facing the death penalty after a conviction for narcotics trafficking. He denied the charges, and the State Department classified him as wrongfully detained.
-
Mark Li, 60, had been held in China since September 2016 on what activists say were trumped-up spying charges.
-
John Leung, 78, has led several pro-Beijing groups in the US. He was arrested in 2021 and sentenced to life in prison on espionage charges two years later.
Details of the Prisoner Swap
The prisoner swap was negotiated by the Biden administration and involved the release of at least one Chinese citizen in US custody. The deal marks a diplomatic win for President Biden in the final months of his presidency.
Travel Advisory Update
On Wednesday, the US also lowered its travel advisory level for mainland China to Level 2: Exercise increased caution.
