Washington DC (US), November 29 (HBTV): Three American citizens, who had been detained for years in China, have returned to the United States following their release in a prisoner swap. The individuals—Mark Swidan, Kai Li, and John Leung—arrived in the US via Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, an administration official confirmed on Thursday.

A spokesperson for the National Security Council (NSC) stated that the three Americans were on their way home and would soon be reunited with their families after years of separation.

The US government had previously determined that Swidan, a Texas businessman, and Li, a Long Island-based Chinese businessman, were “wrongly detained” by the Chinese authorities.

In exchange for their release, China is believed to have secured the release of several Chinese nationals, including Xu Yanjun, a Chinese intelligence officer serving a 20-year sentence in the United States after his arrest in Brussels in 2018. Another individual released is Ji Chaoqun, a Chinese American who became a US citizen through military service.

The New York Times reported that the release of the Americans was part of diplomatic negotiations, and some officials suggested it could serve as a signal to future US-China negotiations.

This is part of ongoing efforts by President Joe Biden's administration, which has helped secure the release of over 70 Americans who were wrongfully detained abroad.

(ANI)