Washington — Three American citizens imprisoned for years by China have been released and are returning to the United States, the White House said Wednesday, announcing a rare diplomatic agreement with Beijing in the final months of the Biden administration.

Three American citizens imprisoned for years by China have been released, the White House said Wednesday. The three are Mark Swidan, Kai Li and John Leung. "Soon they will return and be reunited with their families for the first time in many years,

Mark Swidan, Kai Li, and John Leung have been released from detention, a spokesperson for the National Security Council said.

The United States has brokered the release of three Americans it said had been wrongfully detained in China for many years, the White House said in a statement on Wednesday. The White House national security council named the three as Mark Swidan,

Three Americans who had been detained in China for years have been released in a prisoner swap between Washington and Beijing. “We are pleased to announce the release of Mark Swidan, Kai Li and John Leung from detention in the People’s Republic of China,