During Blinken’s visit to China, he will address the issue of wrongfully detained Americans

Mark Swidan, a 48-year-old Texas businessman, has been languishing on death row in China since 2012, falsely accused of crimes by the U.S.

As Secretary of State Antony Blinken embarks on a high-level diplomatic visit to China, Republican Senator Ted Cruz and Representative Michael Cloud are urging him to secure Swidan’s release. In a letter delivered to the State Department, the lawmakers emphasize the importance of taking decisive action during Blinken’s visit to rectify this injustice.

Blinken has pledged to raise the cases of wrongfully detained Americans during his visit, although he did not specifically mention Swidan.

“Ensuring the safety and well-being of Americans around the world, including those unjustly detained, is always a top priority for me,” Blinken told reporters. The State Department shares this concern and regards Swidan’s detention as wrongful, expressing worries about his health.

An independent United Nations working group has also condemned Swidan’s arbitrary and unjust detention. Swidan maintains his innocence against the charges of drug trafficking, and even the appeal process in April failed to validate his claims. Swidan’s passport proves he was not present in China at the time of the alleged offenses, and no drugs were found in his possession or hotel room.

Cruz and Cloud argue that the U.S. government has displayed a woeful lack of urgency in addressing Swidan’s case, citing its failure to act during previous administrations. Swidan is one of three Americans wrongfully detained in China, highlighting the complications and significance of the U.S.-China relationship. The other detainees are Pastor David Lin, who has been imprisoned since 2006, and Kai Li, who has been serving a 10-year sentence since 2016.

Securing prisoner releases or exchanges with China has proven difficult for the U.S. historically. Harrison Li, son of detainee Kai Li, believes a personal appeal from Blinken could make a difference in his father’s case. Harrison details the harsh conditions his father endures, including limited communication and constant surveillance by Chinese authorities.

Harrison Li hopes that President Biden will also meet with his family, following precedent set in cases involving prisoners held in Russia and Syria. The issue of wrongfully detained Americans and “exit bans” preventing U.S. citizens from leaving China was raised during a recent visit to Beijing by Assistant Secretary Daniel Kritenbrink and National Security Council senior director Sarah Beran. Kritenbrink asserts that the U.S. government prioritizes ensuring the safety of citizens abroad.

In an appearance on “Face the Nation,” Cruz emphasized that releasing Swidan would demonstrate China’s commitment to being a great nation that does not hold political prisoners.