Pastor David Lin Returns Home, Still Awaiting Release of Two More Americans
Washington, D.C. – David Lin, a 68-year-old pastor who had been imprisoned in China for nearly two decades, has been released and returned to the United States, according to the State Department. This development marks a significant achievement for the Biden administration, which had made securing Lin’s release a major focus in efforts to improve relations with China.
David Lin was detained in China in 2006 for his involvement in building an unauthorized church. Although he was sentenced to life in prison for contract fraud a charge he denies Lin was one of three Americans recognized by the U.S. State Department as being wrongfully imprisoned in China. The other two Americans, Kai Li and Mark Swidan, remain in detention on charges related to espionage and drug offenses, respectively.
A State Department spokesperson announced Lin’s release on Sunday, expressing relief that he has reunited with his family after nearly 20 years. The spokesperson said, “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.
In recent years, the Biden administration has intensified its diplomatic efforts to secure the release of the three wrongfully detained Americans. High-level officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, have consistently raised the issue during their visits to China. President Joe Biden also discussed the matter with Chinese leader Xi Jinping during their meetings in San Francisco and through phone calls earlier this year.
Lin had visited China frequently in the 1990s and began preaching there in 1999. He was arrested in 2006 for assisting an underground church in constructing a place of worship. During his imprisonment, Lin used his time to share his faith with fellow inmates and established a prayer group, according to ChinaAid, a U.S.-based Christian human rights organization.
Lin’s release has been praised by U.S. politicians and advocacy groups. Rep. Michael McCaul expressed happiness over Lin’s freedom but called for the release of the remaining two Americans. The Bring Our Families Home Campaign, which represents the families of detained Americans, also welcomed Lin’s release and urged the Biden administration to continue efforts to secure the release of Kai Li and Mark Swidan.
David Lin’s return to the United States is a major diplomatic success, but the fight continues for the release of the two other Americans still imprisoned in China. The Biden administration and advocacy groups remain committed to addressing these cases as part of broader efforts to improve U.S.-China relations.
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