Biden administration negotiates release of American pastor in exchange for jailed Chinese national

David Lin, a U.S. citizen, was incarcerated in China for nearly 20 years. He entered China in 2006 and tried to establish a Christian training center in Beijing

By Kevin Killough

Published: October 31, 2024 9:24am

Updated: October 31, 2024 9:25am

The Biden-Harris administration has negotiated the release of a U.S. citizen in Chinese custody in exchange for the release of an unidentified Chinese national.

David Lin, a U.S. citizen, was incarcerated in China. He entered China in 2006, according to CBS News, and tried to establish a Christian training center in Beijing.

Under the Chinese communist government, only officially-sanctioned churches are permitted. The Chinese government detained Lin in 2006 and sentenced him to life in prison in 2009. The U.S. State Department has said the charges against Lin are baseless.

The 68-year-old pastor was released in September after serving nearly 20 years. The State Department has not officially announced the means or terms by which Lin’s release was secured, but citing unnamed sources, Politico reported that the Biden-Harris administration secured Lin’s release in exchange for the release of a Chinese national jailed in the U.S.