State Department downgrades China travel advisory following its release of US citizens

The State Department on Wednesday downgraded its travel advisory for Americans who want to visit China from a grade three warning to a grade two advisory, after China released three U.S. citizens in a prisoner exchange.

The White House on Wednesday announced that China released Mark Swidan, Kai Li and John Leung. Swidan and Li were considered wrongfully detained. China also released an American pastor earlier this year. 

The release of the three new Americans was in exchange for freeing unidentified Chinese citizens from U.S. custody, according to Politico. The shift in the travel advisory also makes it easier for U.S. academics who work with Chinese institutions to travel between countries.

The travel advisory now urges U.S. citizens to exercise "increased caution" when visiting the global superpower, instead of a level three advisory that recommended Americans "reconsider travel."

An anonymous State Department official claimed the release of the prisoners was a "factor" in the decision to downgrade the advisory, per Politico. The official also said the release means that “currently there are no Americans wrongfully detained in the PRC.”

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.