Three Americans detained in China were released under a surprise prisoner swap deal between Beijing and Washington. The deal came less than two months before President-elect Donald Trump assumed the O

Three Americans who had been detained in China for years have been released in a prisoner swap between Washington and Beijing.

Three American citizens imprisoned for years by China have been released and are returning to the United States, the White House said Wednesday, announcing a diplomatic agreement with Beijing in the final months of the Biden administration.

Three American citizens who had been imprisoned in China for years were released and are on their way back to the United States, the White House announced Wednesday. The development marks a significant diplomatic achievement in the final months of President Joe Biden's administration.

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.

The exchange was reportedly months in the making, and included the release of at least one Chinese citizen in US custody.

China released three American detainees Wednesday after striking a deal for a prisoner exchange with the Biden administration.

Three Americans that were detained in China have been released, according to a State Department official. NBC News' Gabe Gutierrez reports from the White House on the details of the release.