A Christian pastor from California, David Lin, has been freed from China after spending nearly two decades behind bars. Lin, 68, was detained in 2006 after entering China and was later convicted of contract fraud, receiving a life sentence. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom and advocacy groups confirmed these details.
Lin, who frequently traveled to China in the 1990s to spread the gospel, sought a license from the Chinese government to carry out Christian ministry. However, he was detained in 2006 while assisting an underground church, as reported by China Aid, a U.S.-based advocacy group for persecuted activists in China.
Despite denying the contract fraud charge, Lin was formally arrested in 2009 and sentenced to life in prison after a court review, according to China Aid. This charge is commonly used against leaders in the house church movement, which operates independently of state-sponsored faith groups.
In China, all Christian churches must pledge loyalty to the ruling Communist Party and register with the government. Unregistered churches, known as underground churches, are considered unlawful, leading to crackdowns on their activities by the Chinese authorities.
Lin's sentence had been reduced, and he was scheduled for release in April 2030. Concerns about his declining health and safety in prison were raised by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom in 2019.
The release of David Lin comes amid increased tensions between the U.S. and China. National security adviser Jake Sullivan recently visited China to maintain open communication channels. Other Americans currently detained in China include Mark Swidan, sentenced on drug charges, and Kai Li, a businessman held on espionage-related charges.
Rep. Michael McCaul, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, expressed relief at Lin's release and called for the immediate release of Li and Swidan. McCaul highlighted the concerning trend of hostage diplomacy practiced by authoritarian regimes worldwide.
