A Chinese-born American seismologist designated by Washington as "wrongfully detained" is facing espionage charges in China after being held for nearly two years, according to his family, U.S. lawmakers and hostage advocacy groups.
Youlin Chen, 54, a U.S. citizen based in Boston, was detained at Beijing Capital International Airport in November 2024 while preparing to return to the United States after visiting family and giving lectures at two Chinese universities.
The U.S. State Department designated Chen as "wrongfully detained" in March, making his release a priority for the Trump administration.
His wife, Yufang Rong, said she was told President Donald Trump raised the case with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting in Beijing in May.
Chinese authorities have accused Chen of espionage, although his family says his work focused on publicly available research into detecting North Korean nuclear tests. He was formally charged in May 2025 but has not yet stood trial.
Rong said investigators have questioned her husband more than 100 times about his research and warned she fears he will be convicted in a closed-door trial. She also said his health has deteriorated in detention, with significant weight loss and inadequate medical care.
The case adds to tensions between Washington and Beijing and is expected to remain on the agenda ahead of Xi's planned visit to the United States in September.
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