- U.S. pastor David Lin has been released from China after 17 years.
- U.S. officials had urged President Biden to seek Lin’s release
- A congressional hearing will address their health issues next week.
- The U.S. claims Lin and two others were wrongfully detained; China says it followed the law
China has released David Lin, a U.S. pastor who had been imprisoned since 2006, according to the State Department. Lin, who was serving a life sentence for contract fraud, was deemed by Washington to have been wrongfully detained.
For years, U.S. politicians had advocated for Lin’s release.
A State Department spokesperson stated, “We welcome David Lin’s release from prison in China. He has now returned to the U.S. and will reunite with his family after nearly 20 years.”
Lin’s daughter, Alice, confirmed to Politico that her 68-year-old father is expected to arrive in San Antonio, Texas.
Politico quoted Lin’s daughter expressing overwhelming joy, stating, “No words can express the joy we have – we have a lot of time to make up for.”
Last November, the chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee urged President Joe Biden to press Chinese President Xi Jinping for the release of Lin and two other detainees, Kai Li and Mark Swidan. Washington claims the three were wrongfully detained, while China asserts that such cases are managed according to the law.
Next Wednesday, a congressional commission will hold a hearing focused on the cases of American citizens imprisoned in China, particularly Lin, Li, and Swidan, highlighting concerns over their health issues.
