Two co-chairs of the U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) have written a letter to President Biden, urging him to make efforts to rescue American citizens unlawfully detained by the Chinese Communist Party during the remainder of his term.
In the letter, they called on Biden to prioritize the release of American individuals if he meets with the Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping in the near future.
On Friday, October 4th, Republican Congressman Chris Smith and Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley stated in their letter (PDF) to Biden, “More American citizens are wrongfully detained in China than in any other country. Many American citizens in China are sentenced to long-term imprisonment, with serious procedural irregularities or false charges at the time of sentencing.”
“The severe abuses suffered by many during their detention due to inadequate nutrition or medical care in Chinese prisons have led to serious physical and mental health issues,” wrote the two co-chairs of the CECC. “Their rights should be vigorously defended to secure their release.”
The letter cited data from the Foley Foundation indicating that since 2023, the number of unjustly detained American citizens worldwide has decreased by 42%, with China being an exception.
They highlighted that American citizens detained by the Chinese Communist Party typically receive sentences averaging 12 years. For instance, American citizen Kai Li has spent more time in prison than Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, and Alsu Kurmasheva combined. In August of this year, a U.S.-Russia prisoner swap resulted in the release of the latter three individuals, who returned to the United States.
“This situation must change,” wrote the two U.S. lawmakers.
The lawmakers condemned the Chinese Communist Party for repeatedly using exit bans as a means of “hostage-taking” to resolve economic disputes or to force relatives to return to China to face criminal charges.
The letter stated, “If the Chinese (Communist) government wants to improve relations with the United States, it should unconditionally release wrongfully detained American citizens.”
Prior to releasing this letter, the CECC recently held a hearing on “Bringing Home Americans Detained in China,” where the two co-chairs listened to testimonies from four American families detailing the hardships their relatives endure in Chinese prisons.
The four Americans detained by the Chinese Communist Party are Kai Li, Mark Swidan, Dawn Michelle Hunt, and Nelson Wells Jr., all of whom have spent over 8 years in prison.
The lawmakers urged Biden to meet with the families of these American citizens, provide them with regular updates, and prioritize the release of these individuals when meeting with Xi Jinping.
They also called on the U.S. government to work towards the immediate release of individuals like Kai Li, and other Americans unjustly detained by the Chinese Communist Party.
The letter mentioned, “While we have not named all of them, these cases represent many others who require immediate and sustained attention, ensuring their release from Chinese prisons and safe return to the United States.”
They further requested that U.S. embassy officials make more frequent visits to these American citizens detained by the Chinese Communist Party to ensure they receive proper legal and medical assistance.