An American pastor who had been imprisoned in China for nearly 20 years was released unexpectedly on Sunday and has returned to the United States, according to the State Department.

       The pastor, David Lin, 68, was detained in 2006 and later sentenced to life in prison for contract fraud. He had been trying to open a Christian training center in Beijing; his supporters said the Chinese authorities often brought fraud charges against leaders of “house churches” and other religious establishments not controlled by the ruling Communist Party.

       Mr. Lin was one of three Americans whom the State Department had labeled “wrongfully detained” by China. Generally speaking, that is a designation Washington uses for U.S. citizens who it says were taken hostage to influence American policy. Dui Hua, a U.S.-based human rights group, estimates that more than 200 other Americans are “under coercive measures” in China.

       Mr. Lin’s daughter, Alice Lin, told Politico in an interview that “no words can express the joy we have” about his release.

       Advertisement

       SKIP ADVERTISEMENT

       “We have a lot of time to make up for,” she was quoted as saying.

       In Washington, U.S. officials were conspicuously muted about Mr. Lin’s release, perhaps not wishing to aggravate Chinese officials by making it look as though Beijing had made a major political concession to the United States. Relations with China have been in a relative thaw in recent months after an acrimonious start during President Biden’s tenure.

       “We welcome his release,” the State Department spokesman, Matthew Miller, said without flourish.

       “Sometimes in diplomacy, the less said, the better,” he added.

       Subscribe to The Times to read as many articles as you like.