David Lin, a 68-year-old American pastor, has been released from a Chinese prison after nearly 20 years of detention. Lin was arrested in 2006 for trying to open a Christian training center in Beijing and was later sentenced to life in prison for contract fraud.

The US State Department had labeled Lin as “wrongfully detained,” a designation used for US citizens taken hostage to influence American policy. His release comes as China seeks to improve relations with the US amid economic struggles.

Lin’s daughter, Alice, expressed joy and relief at his release, saying, “We have a lot of time to make up for.” The US had repeatedly pressed China to free Lin, including during a recent visit by White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan.

China has made efforts to stabilize relations with the US, including increasing military-to-military communications and restricting fentanyl flow into the US. However, the release of Lin is seen as a small concession, given China’s detention of thousands of political prisoners.

Lin’s case highlights China’s crackdown on organized religion, particularly Christianity. Despite his release, Beijing continues to target Christians and other believers, with 36 documented cases of peaceful practice being targeted since June 2022.

The release of Lin will not significantly impact the overall US-China relationship, according to experts. Two other Americans, Kai Li and Mark Swidan, remain wrongfully detained in China, and the State Department warns US citizens to reconsider travel to China due to the risk of arbitrary detention.