Washington, 27 November 2024 (dpa/MIA) – China has released three US citizens in what US media described on Wednesday as a prisoner swap.

"Soon they will return and be reunited with their families for the first time in many years. Thanks to this administration's efforts and diplomacy with the PRC (People's Republic of China), all of the wrongfully detained Americans in the PRC are home," a US National Security Council (NSC) spokeswoman said.

CNN reported that the three men had been arrested for different reasons. One of them was arrested on drugs charges in 2012 and subsequently sentenced to death. He is reported to have suffered abuse during his time in prison.

The broadcaster reported that the three had been released "in exchange for unidentified Chinese nationals."

According to CNN, a second man was arrested on espionage charges in 2016 and sentenced to 10 years in prison. The third individual was reportedly arrested in 2021, also for spying, and sentenced to life in prison.

The release was preceded by a face-to-face meeting between US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Peru in mid-November at which Biden pressed for the release of the US citizens.

Relations between the two world powers have been strained for years as a result of trade conflicts, geopolitical differences and incidents such as a Chinese surveillance balloon flying over US territory.

President-elect Donald Trump announced on Monday that his incoming administration would impose additional tariffs of 10% on imported Chinese goods. He justified this in part with allegations of drugs smuggling into the US from China.