Washington: In a significant diplomatic development, China has freed three American citizens—Mark Swidan, Kai Li, and John Leung—who were designated as wrongfully detained by the U.S. State Department.

Their release, confirmed by U.S. officials on Wednesday, was part of a prisoner swap involving three unidentified Chinese nationals held in U.S. custody.

This negotiation fulfills a critical objective of President Joe Biden's outgoing administration.

Mark Swidan was detained in 2012 on drug-related charges during a business trip in China, despite claims by his family and supporters that there was no evidence to support these charges.

Kai Li, originally from Shanghai and residing in New York, was arrested in 2016 for espionage, accused of sending state secrets under the guise of aviation technology export compliance.

John Leung, a U.S. citizen and permanent resident of Hong Kong, was detained in 2021, also facing espionage accusations.

These releases come after quiet diplomatic engagements with China and follow the earlier release of Pastor David Lin in September, which was similarly accompanied by a swap.

Despite being less publicized than exchanges with Russia, where leadership often greets returning prisoners, the Biden administration has remained committed to resolving these detentions, securing freedom for over 70 Americans worldwide during its term.

President Biden personally addressed these cases with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the APEC summit in Peru.

Such diplomatic efforts have shown China's willingness to cooperate when the U.S. engages constructively.

Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump has signaled a more confrontational stance towards China, indicating future policy shifts.

However, Biden's tenure has highlighted the importance of diplomatic dialogue alongside recognizing China as a strategic adversary.