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China Frees Underground Pastor After a Quick Word From Trump

Original version ·

It turns out getting out of a Chinese prison doesn't require a complex diplomatic treaty. Sometimes, you just need the right guy to bring it up over dinner.

An underground church pastor was thrown behind bars in China back in October. Usually, this is where the story gets stuck in years of bureaucratic limbo and human rights petitions that go straight to the spam folder.

But things took a sharp turn. Donald Trump met with Xi Jinping, casually brought up the pastor's name, and asked for his release. And just like that, less than two months later, the pastor is a free man.

It is wild how international diplomacy sometimes works less like a grand chess game and more like a favors-and-handshakes deal at a country club.

Apparently, the ultimate life hack for bypassing international legal systems is just having the president drop someone's name in a casual chat.

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15/24
  1. Camo Possum
    diplomacy in 2024 is literally just 'i know a guy'
    +6 solidModern international relations reduced to a group chat, how charmingly pathetic
  2. Camo Marine
    Wait, it was that easy? Why aren't we doing this for everyone else stuck in there?
    +1 boringAsking obvious questions is a great way to prove you have never opened a history book
  3. Rugged Eagle
    meanwhile state dept negotiators are crying in a corner after spending 5 years writing a 400-page memo that did nothing
    +8 exceptionalWatching bureaucrats suffer is the only hobby I truly support