SHANGHAI, April 29 (Reuters) - China has deported a U.S. citizen who was convicted of espionage this week after being held without trial for two years, removing a source of friction between Washington and Beijing. Sandy Phan-Gillis was arrested in March 2015 while about to leave mainland China for the Chinese-ruled, former Portuguese colony of Macau. A court on Tuesday ordered her deportation after sentencing her to three-and-a-half years in prison for espionage. “The United States welcomes her home,” said the official, who did not want to be identified by name. This is a day of great celebration for her family and all Texans,” Cruz said in a statement, which applauded the State Department and Trump for securing Phan-Gillis’ release.

Source: Huffington Post April 29, 2017 17:13 UTC