US PASTOR FREED FROM CHINESE PRISON AFTER 18 YEARS. (PHOTO).

 US pastor freed from Chinese prison after 18 years

An American pastor detained in China for almost 20 years has been released from prison and flown home to his family in Texas,according to the State Department, ending a case that the Biden administration said was a top priority in efforts to stabilize relations with Beijing.

David Lin, 68, was detained in China in 2006 after helping to construct an unapproved church building. He was later sentenced to life in prison for contract fraud, a charge he denied.

Lin was one of three Americans deemed by the US State Department to have been wrongfully detained in China. 

While incarcerated, Mr Lin missed his daughter's wedding and the birth of his grandson.

His release comes days ahead of a congressional hearing focused on US citizens detained in China, of whom there are estimated to be 200.

Businessmen Kai Li and Mark Swidan are still held behind bars, on espionage and drug-related charges respectively.

All are said to be experiencing health issues.

China does not recognise dual nationality, meaning people who hold both an American and Chinese passport are regarded as Chinese citizens by Beijing.

“We welcome David Lin’s release from prison in the People’s Republic of China,” a spokesperson for the US State Department said in a statement Sunday.

“He has returned to the United States and now gets to see his family for the first time in nearly 20 years,” the statement added.

The Biden administration has in recent years stepped up diplomatic efforts to secure the release of the three men.

His release took place just weeks after US national security adviser Jake Sullivan met China's foreign minister in the Chinese capital.

His daughter, Alice, told Politico: "No words can express the joy we have - we have a lot of time to make up for."

She added the US State Department contacted her on Saturday to confirm Chinese authorities had released her father from prison and that he would be flying into San Antonio, Texas, on Sunday.

The timing of Jake Sullivan's meeting with foreign minister Wang Yi indicates he may have had a hand in the negotiations that lead to Mr Lin's release.

"I know that Jake Sullivan did raise my dad’s case," his daughter told Politico.

American officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, have repeatedly raised the issue during their visits to China, citing it as a “top priority” to resolve their cases.