Three American citizens imprisoned for years by China have been released, the White House said Wednesday. The three are Mark Swidan, Kai Li and John Leung. "Soon they will return and be reunited with their families for the first time in many years," the White House said in a statement.

By Simon Lewis and Trevor Hunnicutt WASHINGTON (Reuters) -China has released U.S. citizens Mark Swidan, Kai Li and John Leung, the White House said on Wednesday, concluding years of diplomacy over Americans that Washington says were wrongfully detained in China.

A U.S. official said President Joe Biden pressed for the return of the three when he met Chinese President Xi Jinping at a regional summit in Peru.

Dong is the third Chinese defense chief in less than two years to be snagged in Xi Jinping's anti-corruption net.