US Secures Release of American Pastor Held in China Since 2003

20-Year Detention Ends for American Pastor

“We welcome David Lin's release from prison in the People's Republic of China. He has returned to the United States and now gets to see his family...”

US Congressional Commission to hold Sept 25 hearing on American detainees in China, focusing on Lin, Li, and Swidan cases amid health concerns.

The US State Department announced on September 15 that China has released David Lin, a US pastor imprisoned since 2006.

Lin's freedom follows years of US pressure, with Washington maintaining his detention was unjust. US politicians repeatedly urged Beijing to release Lin, who was serving a life sentence for contract fraud.

“We welcome David Lin's release from prison in the People's Republic of China. He has returned to the United States and now gets to see his family for the first time in nearly 20 years,” a State Department spokesperson said

Alice, Lin's daughter, revealed that her father, 68, would be reunited with the family in San Antonio, Texas.

Lin's daughter Alice shared that her 68-year-old father is set to arrive in San Antonio, Texas, marking his return to the US.

She said, “no words can express the joy we have and we have a lot of time to make up for.”

In November, the chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee called on President Biden to raise the cases of Lin, Kai Li, and Mark Swidan with Chinese President Xi Jinping, urging their release.

The US government considers the detentions of Lin, Kai Li, and Mark Swidan to be unjust, while China asserts that their cases are handled in accordance with Chinese law.

On September 25, a US congressional commission will convene a hearing to examine the plights of American citizens detained in China, highlighting the cases of Lin, Li, and Swidan, who have allegedly suffered health issues.

A US congressional commission has scheduled a September 25 hearing to address the detention of American citizens in China, with a focus on Lin, Li, and Swidan, whose health has reportedly deteriorated.