“I am thrilled by the news that Mark Swidan, Kai Li, and John Leung are on their way home to celebrate Thanksgiving with their families.I want to thank President Biden and officials across the State Department—including the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs (SPEHA) and the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs (EAP)—who have worked tirelessly for years to secure their release.   

“This is a testament to the power of diplomacy. The Biden Administration’s persistence in high-level engagement with the People’s Republic of China, despite partisan criticismsfor doing so, has delivered results. Engaging Beijing—strategically, thoughtfully, and with clear-eyed principle—is necessary to advance America’s interests.”