Washington D.C., November 27, 2024 – As families across the United States prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving tomorrow, the release of Americans Mark Swidan, Kai Li, and John Leung, who have been unlawfully detained in China for years, comes as an immense blessing to their families and all those who supported them. Their return marks an extraordinary moment of relief and gratitude for their loved ones and serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of diplomatic efforts to bring Americans home.
Mark Swidan, a designer and businessman from Houston, Texas, was arrested in 2012 on unsubstantiated narcotics charges while on a business trip to China. Despite no evidence connecting him to the alleged crime—and despite him not being in the country at the time of the alleged offense—he was sentenced to death in 2019, a decision upheld as recently as April 2023. During his unjust detention, Mark endured extreme isolation, torture, deplorable conditions, and the constant threat of execution. His family, particularly his mother, faced years of anguish while tirelessly advocating for his release, never losing faith in his return.
Kai Li, an American businessman, was detained in 2016 on fabricated espionage charges after a routine trip to visit his late mother’s gravesite. He was held in secret detention for months, denied access to legal counsel, and ultimately sentenced to 10 years in prison. His family spent the last eight years living with uncertainty and heartbreak, working relentlessly to bring him home.
John Leung, a 78-year-old U.S. citizen and Hong Kong resident, was sentenced to life imprisonment in May 2023 on disputed espionage charges. Detained in 2021, John faced harsh conditions and limited contact with his loved ones. His release marks a long-awaited reunion for his family and underscores the devastating impact of unjust imprisonment on those left behind.
“The Biden administration has once again demonstrated the power of diplomacy, securing the release of three Americans Mark Swidan, Kai Li, and John Leung who had been unlawfully detained in China for years,” said Hostage Aid Worldwide President Nizar Zakka. “We are especially overjoyed for Katherine Swidan and Harrison Li, who fought long and arduous battles for the return of their loved ones.”
Zakka emphasized that this accomplishment, just a day before Thanksgiving, is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when there’s resolve and will. China has been one of the toughest countries to negotiate with, but this success reaffirms that nothing is impossible and Americans should never be forgotten, no matter how long or difficult the road home may be.
Hostage Aid Worldwide commends and thanks President Biden and his administration for their relentless pursuit of bringing unlawfully detained Americans home.
As we celebrate the return of Mark, Kai, and John, Hostage Aid Worldwide calls on the U.S. government to continue its leadership in ensuring that all Americans unlawfully detained abroad are brought back to their families. Diplomacy has proven its power, and the mission remains clear: no one must be left behind.
