Washington (September 27, 2021) – Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) released the following statement upon the news that Cynthia and Victor Liu, Massachusetts constituents, have been released from China after being unjustly detained since June 2018. 

 

“We are so pleased to welcome Cynthia and Victor Liu back home after three difficult years being held in China as pawns for the Chinese government,” said the lawmakers in a joint statement. “Cynthia and Victor had their young lives completely upended as they were prevented from returning home for more than three years. We are grateful to the Biden administration, particularly Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, and Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens, for their dedication in securing the release of Cynthia and Victor. Unfortunately, their mother Sandra Han, also a U.S. citizen and Massachusetts resident, remains detained in China. We will continue to work with the Biden administration to ultimately secure the release of Ms. Han, as well.” 

 

In April 2021, Senators Markey, Warren, Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) reintroduced the Ending China's Exit Ban for American Citizens Act of 2021, legislation to enhance accountability for Chinese officials involved in coercively banning American citizens from leaving China. In recent years, Chinese officials have prevented U.S. citizens from leaving China in order to pressure relatives wanted by the Chinese government to submit themselves to Chinese authorities. This unfair “exit ban” policy violates international human rights norms and has been used to keep Americans in China for years. Estimates suggest that at least two dozen U.S. citizens have been barred from leaving China over the past three years. U.S. citizens trapped in China are also often harassed and threatened by authorities, according to the Department of State’s Travel Advisory for China.