Texas Man Released By China As Part Of Deal With U.S. Was Months Away From Being Executed

A Houston man who had been scheduled for execution in China is one of three U.S. citizens released by the Chinese Government, the White House announced on Wednesday. According to reports from Politico and The New York Times, the Americans were freed as part of an exchange involving citizens of the People's Republic imprisoned in the United States.

According to White House, Mark Swidan, Kai Li, and John Leung were "wrongfully detained" by Chinese authorities. Swidan, who was a former Houston resident, had been facing a death penalty on drug charges while the other two prisoners were imprisoned on espionage charges. The Houstonian was initially set to be executed back in 2023, but according to the U.S. Department of State, his execution was postponed to 2025.

"Soon they will return and be reunited with their families for the first time in many years," the White House said in a statement.

Top Texas lawmakers swiftly reacted to the news. Including Republican U.S. Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn. In a written statement Cruz said, "I could not be happier for Mark's mother Katherine Swidan, who from her home in Luling, Texas, has spent 12 years waging an unremitting battle to ensure Mark's release."

Cornyn also released a statement condemning Swidan's treatment by Chinese authorities and urging the federal government to secure release of another imprisoned Texan:

"After 12 years of unjust imprisonment, Houstonian Mark Swidan is finally free. He endured unimaginable conditions under the Chinese Communist Party. I join all Americans in celebrating his return home and urge the State Dept. to secure Texan Austin Tice's release."

A U.S. official noted that the Biden administration has consistently raised the issue of detained Americans in discussions with China, including during Biden's recent meeting with Xi at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Peru.

The announcement comes amid a tense period in U.S.-China relations. President-elect Donald Trump recently revealed his plan to impose "an additional 10% tariff, above any additional tariffs" on all Chinese imports as a sanction for the country's perceived participation in the U.S. drug crisis.

Last week, Texas Governor Greg Abbott took part in implementing sanctions against the People's Republic of China by issuing an executive order to prevent state institutions from conducting financial transactions with Chinese entities. He also issued a separate order aimed at limiting China's ability to expatriate Chinese immigrants residing in Texas.