WASHINGTON DC, USA – David Lin, an American pastor who was wrongfully detained in China for nearly 20 years, has been released, according to a statement from the U.S. State Department.
Lin, 68, was imprisoned in 2006 after assisting in the construction of an unapproved church building and was later sentenced to life in prison for contract fraud, a charge he consistently denied.
“We welcome David Lin’s release from prison in the People’s Republic of China,” the State Department said on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
“He has returned to the United States and now gets to see his family for the first time in nearly 20 years.”
Lin’s release marks a significant diplomatic victory for the Biden administration, which had made resolving his case, along with those of two other Americans still detained in China, a top priority in ongoing efforts to stabilise relations with Beijing.
Businessmen Kai Li and Mark Swidan remain imprisoned, facing espionage and drug-related charges, respectively.
The release of David Lin follows years of diplomatic pressure from U.S. officials. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan have repeatedly raised the issue during high-level discussions with Chinese officials, citing Lin’s case as a “top priority” in U.S.-China relations.
President Joe Biden also discussed the detentions with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, including during their in-person meeting in San Francisco last November.
Lin, a frequent visitor to China in the 1990s, began preaching the Gospel there in 1999.
According to ChinaAid, a U.S.-based non-profit Christian human rights organisation, he was arrested in 2006 for aiding an underground “house church” in constructing a place of worship.
Chinese authorities barred Lin from leaving the country, and in 2009, he was sentenced to life in prison for contract fraud, a charge often levelled against leaders of house churches who raise funds for religious work.
Despite his incarceration, Lin saw his time in prison as an opportunity to continue his faith work, organizing prayer groups among fellow prisoners, ChinaAid reported.
China’s Crackdown on Religious Activity
Lin’s case is emblematic of broader tensions between China’s ruling Communist Party and Christian house churches, informal worship gatherings that operate outside of state-approved religious organizations.
In recent decades, and especially under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, the Chinese government has intensified its crackdown on house churches as part of a broader effort to tighten control over religious activities.
The Dui Hua Foundation, a San Francisco-based human rights group that advocates for detainees in China, said Lin had received multiple sentence reductions over the years and was scheduled to be released in 2029.
His early release came as a surprise to many, marking a significant shift after years of advocacy on his behalf.
Calls for Further Action
U.S. politicians and advocacy groups have celebrated Lin’s release, but the focus has quickly turned to securing the release of the two other Americans still detained in China. Kai Li, a businessman accused of espionage, and Mark Swidan, a Texan held on drug-related charges, remain imprisoned.
“I am extremely glad to hear David Lin was freed,” said Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) in a statement on social media.
“However, Kai Li and Texan Mark Swidan still remain CCP prisoners — and must be freed now.”
The Bring Our Families Home Campaign, which advocates for the release of Americans wrongfully detained abroad, also welcomed Lin’s release but urged continued efforts to free Li and Swidan.
“The Campaign is pleased to see that the administration has acknowledged this but urges President Biden to back this up by acting quickly and decisively to build on the momentum of David’s release and free Kai and Mark,” the group said in a statement on Monday.
As Lin reunites with his family in the United States, attention now turns to the two remaining cases. Advocates hope that Lin’s release signals a potential breakthrough in ongoing efforts to bring Kai Li and Mark Swidan home.
