American Pastor Wrongfully Detained in China for 18 Years Finally Released

After more than 18 years of wrongful detention, American pastor David Lin has been released from a Chinese prison, according to the State Department. The 68-year-old pastor, who is a naturalized US citizen, had traveled to China in 2006 with the intention of opening a Christian church building. However, shortly after his arrival, he was detained by Chinese authorities and later sentenced to life in prison in 2009 on charges of contract fraud, which he and his family vehemently deny.

Over the years, Lin's sentence had been reduced multiple times since 2012. Prior to his recent release, he was scheduled to be released in December 2029. The Dui Hua Foundation, a US-based human rights advocacy group, had been monitoring his case closely.

The State Department has long considered Lin's detention to be wrongful and expressed relief at his release. In a statement shared with NPR, they stated, "He has returned to the United States and now gets to see his family for the first time in nearly 20 years." His daughter, Alice Lin, expressed profound joy at the reunion with her father, stating, "No words can express the joy we have - we have a lot of time to make up for."

Lin's release comes just before a US congressional hearing on Americans who are wrongfully detained in China. The families of other detainees suffering from serious health issues, such as Kai Li, a businessman detained on spying charges in 2016, and Mark Swidan, a businessman detained since 2012 on allegations of narcotics trafficking, hope that this attention will bring about their loved ones' release as well.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken has repeatedly emphasized the importance of resolving cases of American citizens wrongfully detained or facing exit bans in China. Human rights groups report that China has significantly increased the imposition of exit bans on both Chinese and foreign nationals since 2012, a claim that Beijing rejects. Last year, the State Department revised its travel advisory for China, urging Americans to reconsider travel to the mainland due to the risk of arbitrary detention and exit bans.

As the case of David Lin gains attention, it highlights the ongoing challenges faced by Americans unjustly held in China and the urgent need for their release. The release of Pastor Lin brings hope to other families eagerly waiting for the return of their loved ones, emphasizing the importance of continued efforts to resolve these cases and promote human rights.