China confirms the return of three nationals who were “illegally imprisoned” in the US

• The deal was part of the swap deal with Beijing, the source says.
• American officials negotiated the return of Americans imprisoned in China.
• The long-time “fugitive” was also extradited back to China, Beijing’s FM spox says.
  

Beijing announced Thursday that three of its nationals “illegally imprisoned” in the United States have returned to China, after US officials said they had negotiated the return of three Americans imprisoned there.

Washington said on Wednesday it had secured the return of the last detainees in China labeled by the State Department as illegal detainees.

A source close to the matter said the deal was part of a swap deal with Beijing for three Chinese nationals in US custody, who were not named.

Beijing’s foreign ministry confirmed on Thursday the return of three US nationals, without elaborating further.

“After unremitting efforts by the Chinese government, three Chinese nationals who were illegally imprisoned by the US side have now returned safely to the motherland,” spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a regular press conference in Beijing.

“This shows once again that China will never abandon its countrymen and that the motherland is always there as a strong backup force for them,” Mao said.

He added that Beijing “firmly opposes the US side carrying out the repression and persecution of Chinese nationals for political purposes, and will continue as always to take necessary measures” to defend their interests.

A long-time “fugitive” was also extradited back to China, Mao said, adding that their return showed that “no one can escape the long arm of the law.”