US pastor David Lin released from China after 15 years of imprisonment

David Lin, an American pastor jailed in China for over 15 years, has been released and returned to the US, marking a significant diplomatic development between the two nations.

The US State Department confirmed Lin's release on September 16, welcoming his return and describing him as "wrongfully detained."

Lin, a naturalised US citizen, traveled to China in 2006 to establish a Christian church in Beijing.

Shortly after his arrival, he was arrested and, in 2009, sentenced to life in prison for contract fraud, a charge he and his family have consistently denied.

Human rights advocates have suggested that the charge was a pretext often used by Chinese authorities against leaders of small, unregistered religious groups.

Lin's sentence had been reduced multiple times since 2012, with his scheduled release initially set for December 2029.

However, following advocacy from US officials and the Dui Hua Foundation, his release was expedited.

The pastor’s return comes just ahead of a US congressional hearing addressing other Americans who are still detained in China.

Among them are Kai Li, imprisoned on espionage charges since 2016, and Mark Swidan, detained since 2012 on narcotics-related charges. Both men’s families have denied the allegations against them.

Lin’s release follows a high-level meeting in August between US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Sullivan emphasized the need to resolve cases of Americans wrongfully detained or restricted from leaving China, indicating that Lin's release is a positive step in improving US-China relations.

The US had long called for Lin’s freedom, and his case had been a focal point of diplomatic discussions.

His daughter, Alice Lin, expressed her overwhelming joy at his release, stating, “No words can express the joy we have – we have a lot of time to make up for.”

Lin's release is a milestone in ongoing diplomatic negotiations, yet challenges remain. US officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, have reiterated that the resolution of wrongful detentions remains a top priority, as concerns continue to grow over China's increasing use of exit bans and arbitrary detentions.

Lin’s return to the US is a moment of celebration for his family, who will soon reunite with him in Texas, following nearly two decades of separation.