China Releases American Pastor Wrongly Imprisoned, According to State Department

China has released David Lin, a U.S. pastor who had been imprisoned since 2006, according to the State Department. This marks the liberation of a man that Washington claims was wrongfully detained.

U.S. lawmakers had long advocated for Lin’s release, who was sentenced to life in prison on charges of contract fraud. A State Department spokesperson stated, “We welcome David Lin’s release from prison in the People’s Republic of China. He has returned to the United States and is now able to reunite with his family for the first time in nearly 20 years.”

Lin’s daughter, Alice, informed a news outlet that her 68-year-old father would be arriving in San Antonio, Texas. She expressed their joy, saying, “No words can express the joy we have — we have a lot of time to make up for.”

In November, the chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee urged President Biden to advocate for Lin’s release during his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, emphasizing the cases of Lin, Kai Li, and Mark Swidan, who are also detained. Washington alleges that all three were wrongfully imprisoned, while China insists that such matters are managed according to its laws.

Additionally, a congressional commission is set to hold a hearing next Wednesday focused on the imprisonment of American citizens in China, specifically addressing the cases of Lin, Li, and Swidan, all of whom reportedly face health challenges.