Although this whale jumped onto their ship - this is a major coup for US intelligence agencies. The last major walk-in that we (i.e. non need-to-know civilians) know of happened in
March 2001. It may have triggered the April 2001 EP-3 incident off the coast of Hainan. More details at this
link. I bet it's a real adrenaline rush when an asset comes in from the cold with his limbs intact.
It was never a realistic possibility that Ling, a naturalized US citizen, would be extradited, unless he was shown to have taken part in Holocaust atrocities.:-) According to a Chinese acquaintance, the
Ling siblings have unusual names, possibly minted at the peak of revolutionary fervor by their parents. Ling Jihua is literally Ling Plan (as in 5 year plan?). Ling Wancheng is Ling Complete (as in complete mission?). Linghu Luxian is Ling Route (as in Route Army?) Ling Zhengce is Ling Policy. This is in stark contrast to the translations of Chinese names I've read in pulpy English language fiction on China by Lin Yutang, and orientalist Robert van Gulik, which tend towards the flowery, and in some cases (Deng Xiaoping aka Deng Little Peace) express the aspirations of the parents re that particular kid.