Sharing the stories of freedom advocates from around the world can be bittersweet.
Their courage is inspiring, but that courage often comes at the price of harassment, violence, imprisonment, and even death at the hands of authoritarian governments.
Given that grim reality, it’s encouraging to report some good news with last week’s release of Chinese political prisoner Pastor Ezra Jin. He had been imprisoned by Chinese authorities in October 2025 for practicing his Christian faith. This news also showcases the power of U.S. support for freedom and human rights advocates.
In May, the Bush Institute highlighted Jin’s story ahead of President Donald J. Trump’s meeting with China’s leader Xi Jinping. During their conversation, President Trump raised the cases of Jin and Hong Kong democracy advocate Jimmy Lai, urging for their release.
While Lai remains imprisoned, Jin was released and reunited with his family in America just ahead of the Fourth of July holiday.
Aside from the considerable joy felt by his family, Jin’s freedom exemplifies how American leadership matters when it comes to supporting political prisoners. U.S. influence, as President Trump demonstrated in this case, can help those struggling for freedom and human rights by nudging those in power to do the right thing – in this case freeing the wrongfully imprisoned Jin.
It also reminds authoritarian leaders that the United States cares about the fate of political prisoners – even at the highest levels of power. While a well-deserved victory lap should be taken for securing Jin’s freedom, there are more who can benefit from Washington’s support. Many political prisoners remain in China – people like Lai and journalist Dong Yuyu – and in other countries around the world.
American support for freedom and human rights advocates isn’t merely a “feel good” story (though it’s certainly a benefit), but part of a comprehensive policy strategy aimed at securing U.S. national security and economic interests.
The Bush Institute detailed how this works in its recent report, Malign Alignment, offering ideas for countering cooperation among China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (CRINK). CRINK seeks to undermine a U.S. global order that has amplified relative peace and prosperity – at home and abroad – for nearly a century.
As evidenced by their domestic brutality, these CRINK regimes seek to avoid being held accountable by their own people. That’s both a moral and strategic vulnerability the United States should be consistently leveraging against CRINK. Helping others – like Jin – realize their freedom weakens America’s adversaries and strengthens the appeal of U.S. values.
