Family seeks release of US seismologist detained in China

The family of American seismologist Youlin Chen says he has been detained in China on espionage charges since 2024 and is seeking his release.

Global Reach, an NGO working with Chen's family, said Chen was detained on November 5, 2024. Chen has researched how to detect underground nuclear tests using seismological data.

The organization said the US government formally declared Chen wrongfully detained in March, but that his family chose not to announce the designation at the time in the hope that it would support State Department efforts to secure his release.

Global Reach said US President Donald Trump urged Chinese President Xi Jinping to free Chen during Trump's state visit to China in May, and that Xi reportedly agreed to work on the issue. Eric Lebson, Global Reach's chief strategy officer, said there had been no apparent movement by China toward releasing Chen.

The organization did not say why Chen was in China when he was detained or provide details of his arrest.

Chen's wife, Yufang Rong, said she had not been able to speak to her husband for more than 600 days and was concerned about his health. She said Chen had never held a US government security clearance and said an espionage allegation was inconsistent with the public and collaborative nature of his work.

A profile by the James Foley Foundation, which also advocates for wrongfully detained Americans abroad, says Chen has diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Global Reach said Chen's arrest may be linked to US government accusations that China conducted underground nuclear tests in violation of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. The organization said Chen's expertise in seismic monitoring could give Chinese authorities a way to learn about US detection methods and possible countermeasures.

Global Reach said the US military and State Department have funded some of Chen's research. It said he has written studies using data from across Asia, including China, to improve methods for nuclear-test monitoring and yield estimation.

China denies it has conducted explosive nuclear tests and says the United States is seeking a pretext to resume its own testing.

The State Department urged Beijing on Tuesday to release Chen. A department spokesperson said the United States had raised Chen's case directly with Chinese officials and called for his immediate release. The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.