China has released David Lin, an American pastor who had been imprisoned in the country since 2006. The 68-year-old from Orange County, California, is now back in the United States and reunited with his family after nearly two decades.
Lin’s release comes shortly after US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan’s meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The US government had been advocating for Lin’s release, arguing that his detention was unjust.
Alice Lin, David Lin’s daughter, shared her immense relief and joy at her father’s return. “Words cannot fully express our happiness,” she said. “We now have a lot of time to catch up.” She also noted that Sullivan raised her father’s case during his discussions with Chinese officials.
Lin was first detained by Chinese authorities in 2006 when he attempted to establish a Christian training center in Beijing. He faced charges of contract fraud, which were vaguely defined, and was sentenced to life in prison in 2009. Lin has consistently denied the charges. Although he received several sentence reductions, he was initially scheduled for release in 2029.
The timing of Lin’s release coincided with a Congressional hearing on Americans detained in China. Politicians, including Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Tex), expressed relief over Lin’s release and criticized the trend of “hostage diplomacy” by authoritarian regimes.
Lin’s case had often been highlighted alongside other American detainees in China, such as businessman Mark Swidan and Kai Li, who are also considered by the US to be wrongfully imprisoned.
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