The Americans were freed in exchange for a Chinese intelligence officer who was serving a 20-year sentence in the United States, officials said.

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,

Three American citizens who had been detained in China were released, a State Department spokesperson said Wednesday. They are Mark Swidan, Kai Li and John Leung.