The White House says three Americans held in China for years have been released

WASHINGTON – Three American citizens held for years by China have been released and are returning to the United States, the White House said Wednesday, announcing a rare diplomatic agreement with Beijing in the final months of the Biden administration.

There are three Mark Swidan, Kai Li and John Leungall of whom were deemed unlawfully detained by the U.S. government. Swidan faced a death sentence for drugs, and Li and Leung were imprisoned on espionage charges.

“They will return soon and be reunited with their families for the first time in many years,” the White House said in a statement.

A U.S. official said the Biden administration has raised the issue with China in multiple meetings over the past few years, including earlier this month when President Joe Biden spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of their annual meeting Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in Peru.

Politico was the first to report the men’s release.