Senator John F. Kerry's letter to Ambassador Yang JiechiJonh F. Kerry May 22,2002
The Honorable Yang Jiechi Dear Mr. Ambassador: I am writing to express my grave concern about the detention in China of Dr. Jian-Li Yang, a resident of Brookline, Massachusetts whose wife and two children are United States citizens. Dr. Yang was detained in Kunming on April 26 as he was concluding a ten-day visit to China. He has remained in custody since that time. Dr Yang is an accomplished scholar and a long-time United States resident. He has received a Ph.D, in Political Economy and Government from Harvard University and a Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of California at Berkeley and has undertaken important work in both fields. In addition to his wife and children, Dr. Yang's elderly parents and two sisters live here in the United States. I am extremely concerned about his safety in custody and about the well-being of his family during his absence, respectfully urge you to do everything in your power to facilitate Dr. Yang's immediate release so he can return home to his family in the U.S. Thank you for your immediate attention to this important matter. Sincerely, Jonh F. Kerry United States Senator
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