American seismologist Youlin Chen held in China on espionage charges

Youlin Chen, a 54‑year‑old Chinese‑born American seismologist and U.S. citizen since 2011, was arrested at Beijing Capital International Airport on 5 November 2024 while returning to Boston. He has been detained for almost two years without trial and now faces espionage charges that could carry life imprisonment or the death penalty. Chen’s research, funded by the U.S. State Department and the Air Force Research Laboratory, focuses on detecting North Korean underground nuclear tests. His wife, Yufang Rong, says he has been interrogated more than 100 times about that work, has lost significant weight, and is denied adequate medical care. The U.S. State Department designated Chen “wrongfully detained” in March 2025, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio and former President Donald Trump have raised his case with Chinese President Xi Jinping, but China says it follows the law and rejects the wrongful‑detention claim. Rong warned, “I believe they will convict him no matter what and the trial will be behind closed doors.” U.S. senators, including Ed Markey, have urged Chinese authorities to release Chen, but no action has been taken.