US citizens detained for over 10 years, families urge Trump to seek release from Xi Jinping

(Central News Agency, Beijing, 11th, comprehensive foreign report) Two Americans have been detained in China for over 10 years, and their families are urging President Trump to seek their release from Chinese President Xi Jinping at this week's summit.

Reuters reported that the two cases involve 54-year-old Chicago artist and former flight attendant Dawn Michelle Hunt, and 52-year-old Louisiana man Nelson Wells Jr., a father of three. Both were convicted of drug offenses, but their families state that they both fell into 'blind mule' scams, unknowingly being used to carry drugs.

For Trump, who prides himself as a 'negotiator' capable of bringing Americans home, securing the release of two ailing American prisoners would be a substantial gain at a Trump-Xi summit where breakthroughs on trade, Iran, and Taiwan issues are expected to be difficult.

For Beijing, releasing two Americans on humanitarian grounds would be a low-cost diplomatic move, potentially gaining goodwill from the unpredictable US president at a sensitive time in bilateral relations.

Tim Hunt, Dawn Michelle Hunt's brother, said: "As President Trump and President Xi Jinping are about to meet, our two families are writing letters. We ask, can you help request the release of our loved ones? We hope these letters can be delivered and read."

Tim Hunt stated that his sister is an artistically talented 'genius,' very intelligent, a former flight attendant, holds a degree in fashion design, and enjoys participating in raffles with her mother.

Tim Hunt said that Dawn Michelle Hunt was lured by fraudsters to participate in an international 'winning prize' trip. When she arrived in China, they gave her a handbag and a new suitcase with drugs hidden inside. She unknowingly agreed to carry it out of the country by plane.

Nelson Wells Jr. had traveled the world, climbed mountains, and explored Japan's peaks, sharing these beautiful sights with his father. His family stated that Wells was arrested when returning home after a trip to China, after agreeing to help someone carry a suitcase. When airport security found drugs hidden in the bag, that person disappeared without a trace.

Wells' father, a US Army veteran, said: "I was happy to serve my country, and now I just hope my country can serve me."

A US State Department spokesperson stated that consular assistance is being provided to the two, and officials are also advocating for the health and well-being of these two citizens, but declined to provide details citing privacy concerns.

A spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the two are serving sentences for serious drug-related crimes, and the government is handling their cases according to law, while ensuring their health and legitimate rights are protected. (Compiler: Li Peishan) 1150511

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