A Christian pastor from California has been released from China after nearly two decades in prison and has returned home to the U.S., as confirmed by the State Department on Monday.
David Lin, 68, was arrested in China in 2006, convicted of contract fraud, and sentenced to life in prison, according to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom and advocacy groups.
Alice Lin, the pastor’s daughter, shared the good news with Bob Fu, the founder of China Aid, a U.S.-based advocacy group. She mentioned that her father is now reunited with the family after his release.
The Biden administration has been actively working on cases like David Lin’s, advocating for wrongly detained Americans in China. These cases have been raised in meetings with senior Chinese officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s recent meeting with the Chinese Foreign Minister in Laos.
The State Department expressed their joy over David Lin’s release and his return to the U.S. after almost 20 years. Lin had a history of traveling to China in the 1990s for evangelical purposes, but he was detained in 2006 for his involvement with an unauthorized church.
Lin denied the charge of contract fraud that led to his life sentence. Religious freedom groups highlight the risks faced by individuals involved in unauthorized church activities in China, where only state-approved churches are recognized.
Despite the reduction in his sentence and impending release in 2030, concerns were raised about David Lin’s health and safety in prison. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has not yet commented on his release.
Others Americans detained in China include Kai Li and Mark Swidan on various charges. Efforts continue to secure the release of these individuals held in Chinese custody.
Representative Michael McCaul praised David Lin’s release but urged for the immediate freedom of others unfairly detained in China. He highlighted the concerning trend of hostage diplomacy practiced by authoritarian regimes around the world.