The families of four Americans detained in China are rallying for their release, portraying the dire physical and mental toll their loved ones are enduring during their captivity. At a hearing before the Congressional-Executive Commission of China, relatives of Kai Li, Mark Swidan, Dawn Michelle Hunt, and Nelson Wells Jr. shed light on the extended detentions that have garnered renewed attention following the recent release of American pastor David Lin after almost two decades behind bars. The families emphasized that more Americans are imprisoned in China than in any other foreign nation, prompting calls for urgent action from the U.S. government to secure their return.
According to the commission, established by Congress to monitor human rights in China, the persistent plight of these detained Americans remains a top priority. Rep. Chris Smith, a New Jersey Republican and commission chairman, condemned the blatant violation of American human rights occurring with impunity. During the hearing, family members disclosed distressing accounts of their detained relatives’ deteriorating health and well-being, emphasizing the urgent need for their repatriation.
Harrison Li revealed that his father, Kai Li, had endured a stroke, dental issues, and prolonged isolation during China’s stringent COVID-19 measures, while serving a 10-year sentence in Shanghai on disputed charges of espionage and stealing state secrets. Similarly, Nelson Wells Sr. highlighted his son’s deteriorating health, including chronic pain, seizures, malnutrition, and severe depression stemming from his incarceration since 2014.
Tim Hunt emotionally appealed for assistance for his sister Dawn Hunt, sentenced to life in a Guangdong province prison on drug smuggling charges the family contends are false. Indicating that Dawn Hunt had been deceived into unwittingly transporting illicit substances, he underscored the urgency of bringing her back to the U.S. amid her declining health and lack of adequate medical care.
Despite acknowledging that individuals must be held accountable for violating laws abroad, Sen. Jeff Merkley, an Oregon Democrat and co-chair of the commission, expressed concerns about the challenges of securing justice within China’s legal system. Lawmakers, including Rep. Zach Nunn, an Iowa Republican, accused China of employing hostage diplomacy tactics to exert leverage over the U.S. regarding detained citizens.
The Chinese Embassy in Washington defended its legal practices, asserting that criminal suspects, regardless of nationality, are treated fairly and in accordance with the law. Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department has cautioned against travel to China due to the risk of wrongful detentions, as highlighted during the hearing’s presentation of a video message from Katherine Swidan, mother of Mark Swidan, imploring the U.S. government to intervene for her son’s release.
In light of the ongoing plight of these detained Americans, their families continue to advocate for their safe return, urging government officials to prioritize their repatriation and address the egregious human rights violations they are enduring in Chinese custody.
