US Pastor David Lin Released After 18 Years in Chinese Prison, Returns to Texas
David Lin, a 68-year-old American pastor who was imprisoned in China for nearly two decades, has been released and reunited with his family in Texas. Lin had been serving a life sentence since 2006, following his conviction on fraud charges, which the U.S. government has long described as baseless.
Lin’s release comes shortly after a high-level meeting between U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing. His daughter, Alice, expressed her overwhelming joy, stating, “No words can express the joy we have — we have a lot of time to make up for.” She revealed that the U.S. State Department notified her on Saturday, confirming that her father was on a flight to San Antonio.
A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department welcomed Lin’s release, stating, “He has returned to the United States and now gets to see his family for the first time in nearly 20 years.”
While it remains unclear whether Sullivan’s recent diplomatic visit played a direct role in securing Lin’s freedom, Alice confirmed that her father’s case was discussed during the talks. Lin’s imprisonment had caused him to miss major family milestones, including his daughter’s wedding and the birth of his grandson.
Lin’s release comes ahead of a congressional hearing concerning U.S. citizens detained in China. Currently, two other Americans, Mark Swidan and Kai Li, are considered unjustly imprisoned, with Swidan on death row for alleged drug trafficking. The U.S. State Department continues to advocate for their release amid concerns over their declining health.
China, which does not recognize dual nationality, treats those holding both American and Chinese passports as Chinese citizens.
[…] seen being pulled out of the water with the assistance of a crane. Authorities have yet to confirm whether anyone was inside the vehicle at the time of the […]