Ted Cruz wants to free Mark Swidan but doesn’t see China as a great power.

The World Sees China’s True Colors as U.S. Congress Demands Freedom for American Held Hostage for Over a Decade

Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) spoke exclusively with The Daily Wire, declaring that the world can now see China for what it truly is: not a “great power.” This comes after the Democrat-controlled Senate and GOP-led House both passed unanimous resolutions demanding the immediate release of Mark Swidan, an American who has been “unjustly detained” for over a decade.

A Powerful Display of Unanimity

Cruz noted that the degree of focus and visibility demonstrated by the unanimous resolutions is sure to be noticed by Beijing, as the Chinese Communist Party is highly sensitive to international pressure. “Great powers do not hold hostages, and China is not behaving like the great power it claims it wants to be,” Cruz said.

A Houston Businessman Unjustly Detained

Swidan, a Houston businessman in his 40s, was arrested in 2012 while on a business trip. He was convicted in 2019 of taking part in a criminal drug conspiracy and given a delayed death sentence. A Chinese court rejected Swidan’s appeal and upheld his death penalty with a two-year suspended death sentence, according to the State Department.

Time is of the Essence

Cruz’s resolution, co-sponsored by Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), warns that Swidan’s health has deteriorated amid “inhumane” conditions, a lack of adequate medical care, and efforts to prevent family from contacting him. The resolution also notes a 2020 United Nations working group report that determined Swidan was being arbitrarily detained and should be released.

“Time is of the essence. It is now or never, I believe,” Cruz said on Tuesday. He has been in contact with Swidan’s mother, Katherine, who “desperately” wants to see her son come home. In addition to his resolution, Cruz said he has been “leaning on” the State Department to do more and met with China’s ambassador to push for Swidan’s release.

Using Leverage to Secure Swidan’s Release

Cruz believes there are a number of “tools” that can be employed, such as exerting economic and diplomatic pressure to the point that China decides it is “not worth the hassle to keep Mark Swidan as a hostage.” He plans to keep using his leverage in the Senate and posited that the president could make a huge difference with one small suggestion.

“As far as I know, Biden has never said the name Mark Swidan. That needs to change,” Cruz said. “The president needs to stand up and use the bully pulpit of the White House to call for his release.”

• Chinese authorities arrested Swidan, a Houston businessman who is now in his 40s, in 2012 while he was on a business trip.
• Swidan was convicted in 2019 after being accused of taking part in a criminal drug conspiracy and given a delayed death sentence.
• A Chinese court rejected Swidan’s appeal and upheld his death penalty with a two-year suspended death sentence, the State Department announced last month.
• President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken “continue to remain personally focused on the release of Mark Swidan and other U.S. nationals wrongfully detained or held hostage across the world,” State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel said in a statement.
• The State Department says Biden raised the issue of “wrongfully detained U.S. nationals” in a November meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Indonesia, and U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns reportedly met with some of them, including Swidan, in recent weeks.

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