The bridge and the guys in trench coats smoking at both ends were missing. have agreed on a exchange of alleged spies with the aroma of cold war. They are three on each side, claimed by their governments as innocent, and who have arrived or will soon arrive at their homes. The mutual delivery comes after months of intense negotiations and just a few weeks before Joe Biden’s retirement.
Washington and Beijing have reacted with uproar. “They will soon return home and be reunited with their families for the first time in years,” said the statement from the US National Security Council. Secretary of State, Antony The blinkspecified that they are in good health and will arrive in time for Thanksgiving. The three Americans are the last on Washington’s list of “unjustly detained” in China, although other families claim the same condition.
With more pomp, but equal qualification, Beijing expressed itself hours later. “Thanks to the tireless efforts of the Chinese Government, the three Chinese citizens unjustly detained by the United States have returned home safely,” said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning at the daily press conference. Chinahe continued, has always opposed the “repression and persecution” of its citizens for “political reasons.”
Biden’s diplomatic victory
The two superpowers are supposed to be feverishly busy scrutinizing each other and with numerous assets on rival soil. It is now customary for periodic arrests to be followed by resounding declarations of innocence supported by their governments.
The exchange represents one of the last diplomatic victories of Biden in office. He had spoken about the matter this month at the APEC summit held in Peru with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinpingbut his campaign had previously involved The blink and other senior officials.
During his tenure he has supervised the release of 70 Americans from countries like Russia, Iran o Venezuela. Those detained in China have not enjoyed the attention or fanfare of those who were freed by Russia, welcomed at the airport as heroes. There is now only speculation about the reasons why Beijing has accepted. Maybe he wanted to reward Biden in his presidential death rattles, less loud than his beginnings. Or perhaps he intends to make his imminent replacement, Donald, see Trumpthat cooperation pays off.
The freed
The freed Americans are Kai Li, John Leung and Mark Swidan. The first, 60 years old and born in Shanghai, was exporting aeronautical technology when he was arrested in 2016 for sending state secrets to Washington. The second, 78 years old and related to Chinese groups in the United States, was arrested in 2021 and sentenced to life imprisonment for espionage. The third, 48 years old, is on death row and is the only one not accused of espionage. He was arrested during a business trip on drug trafficking charges. His family had warned of his weight loss and poor health and disgraced his Government for considering him a pawn in bilateral negotiations.
Has not yet revealed Beijing the name of their lucky ones. The newspaper ‘The New York Times’ has revealed that Xu Yanjun, 42, was discussed in the negotiations. He was sentenced in 2023 to twenty years in prison for espionage that he and Beijing deny. A look at the newspaper archive reveals numerous candidates. There are so many that China has denounced that American hysteria has already slowed down academic exchange.
