President Trump has called on Xi Jinping to release Youlin Chen, a detained seismologist, according to Chen’s family. Dr. Chen specializes in detecting North Korean nuclear tests.
In 2024, Youlin Chen was detained by Chinese security officials at a Beijing airport. He was accused of spying due to his research in nuclear test detection, linked to the U.S. government.
Dr. Chen, who was due to return to Boston, has been held for nearly two years. His family and supporters believe the spying accusations, related to his research, are baseless.
They decided to publicize his plight, hoping the attention will pressure China to free him. The move comes amid ongoing trade tensions between Beijing and Washington.
Dr. Chen’s arrest underscores the risks scientists face when their work is viewed as sensitive by Chinese authorities. This is particularly true for those of Chinese descent visiting the country.
Under Xi Jinping, China has increased efforts to crack down on alleged espionage. Recently, a U.S. scholar researching Myanmar politics was similarly detained, accused of spying.
Your support can help rectify such situations. Dr. Chen’s wife, Yufang Rong, confirmed President Trump discussed Chen’s case with Xi Jinping during a meeting in May in Beijing.
Ms. Rong remains hopeful that President Trump will advocate for her husband’s release at an upcoming summit in Washington. She anticipates that President Xi will correct this ‘mistake’ of detaining a U.S. academic, allowing him to return home.
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