The Department of State has been working to secure the release of American pastor China to Schedule Next Leaders' Call in the Coming Weeks: White House”>David Lin, who had been imprisoned in China for nearly two decades, according to spokesperson Matthew Miller. Miller stated at a press briefing on September 16 that they welcomed his release and would continue to work towards freeing all wrongfully detained American citizens. He also mentioned that Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s efforts to reopen communication with Beijing during his trip to China in June 2023 were part of this process.
Miller emphasized that the goal was not only to address major global issues but also bilateral concerns, including the wrongful detention of American citizens. During Blinken’s meeting with Chinese Communist Party Foreign Minister Wang Yi in July, he raised the issue of wrongfully detained Americans. Additionally, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan discussed this matter during his diplomatic talks with high-ranking CCP officials in Beijing in August.
However, Miller did not provide details about whether a prisoner swap occurred or any further information about the process. On Sunday, David Lin’s daughter Alice Lin expressed her joy upon receiving confirmation of her father’s release. She texted longtime supporter Bob Fu ahead of their reunion and said, “Praise God! We got the call late last night!!! Dad is free and over Alaska now.”
David Lin had traveled to China in 2006 for a missionary trip and was arrested while assisting a group of house Christians. Under CCP rule, Christianity is strictly regulated and worship is only permitted within regime-controlled churches and doctrines. Independent Christians who gather in private homes are known as house Christians.
In 2022, just before CCP leader Xi Jinping was scheduled to meet President Joe Biden, David Lin’s sentence was reduced with an expected end date by 2030.
