The State Department announced the release of Mark Swidan, Kai Li and John Leung. A U.S. government official told NBC News the three were exchanged for two Chinese detainees.

Mark Swidan, Kai Li, and John Leung have been released from detention, a spokesperson for the National Security Council said.

China announced Thursday that the U.S. had returned four people to China, including three citizens it said had been held for “political purposes.”