Chairs Urge President to Seek the Release of Americans Detained in China

October 4, 2024

(Washington)— The Chairs of the bipartisan and bicameral Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), Representative Christoper Smith (R-NJ) and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), today released a letter asking President Biden to use the remaining months of his presidency to advocate for “Americans wrongfully detained” in China, including Kai Li, Mark Swidan, Nelson Wells, Jr., and Dawn Michelle Hunt.

The letter follows a recent CECC hearing entitled “Bringing Home Americans Detained in China”, where the Chairs heard powerful testimony from the families of Americans detained in China. The Chairs urged the President to meet with families of detained Americans in China and to make the release of Americans a “top priority item” in any upcoming meetings with People’s Republic of China General Secretary and President Xi Jinping.  

In addition to Americans Kai Li and Mark Swidan, both formally designated as “wrongfully detained” by the U.S. government, the Chairs urged more focused diplomatic action to gain the release of Nelson Wells, Jr., and Dawn Michelle Hunt, “neither who received a fair and transparent trial” and both now “face life-threatening health conditions that Chinese authorities cannot or will not properly address.”      

The full letter, including other recommendations made by the Chairs to assist Americans detained in China, can be found here.