The United States has secured the release of American Pastor David Lin from China, where he had been imprisoned since 2006. Lin, 68, was reunited with his family for the first time in nearly 20 years after his release, which was announced by the State Department on Sunday. The department’s spokesperson, Matthew Miller, said that the US had been working to secure Lin’s freedom for some time and would continue to push for the release of other Americans still detained in China.
Miller mentioned two other detainees, Mark Swidan and Kai Li, and declined to rule out that Lin’s release had been the result of a swap. The issue of US detainees in China had been raised during a meeting between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and China’s top diplomat Wang Yi in July. US politicians had long urged Beijing to free Lin, who was jailed for life on charges of contract fraud. The US says that Lin, Swidan, and Li were wrongfully detained, while China maintains that their cases are handled according to law.
A US congressional commission is due to hold a hearing on Wednesday on the case of American citizens imprisoned in China, highlighting the health issues faced by all three. The commission will likely raise concerns about the treatment of US citizens in Chinese prisons and push for greater efforts to secure their release. The hearing comes as tensions between the US and China remain high, with disagreements over trade, security, and human rights.
The release of Lin is seen as a positive step in the complex relationship between the two countries, but much work remains to be done to address the cases of other US citizens detained in China. The State Department has pledged to continue working towards the release of all US citizens wrongfully detained abroad, and lawmakers are pushing for greater action to address the issue.
Lin’s release has been welcomed by his family and supporters, who have campaigned tirelessly for his freedom. His case has highlighted the risks faced by US citizens traveling to China and the need for greater awareness and action to protect their rights. As the US continues to push for the release of other detainees, the case of David Lin serves as a reminder of the importance of standing up for human rights and the rule of law.
