President Donald Trump announced that he will personally ask Chinese President Xi Jinping to free Dr. Youlin Chen, an American seismic and nuclear researcher who has been wrongfully detained in China since November 2024. The request follows an emotional appeal from Chen’s wife, Yugang Rong, and from Sylvia Zin, whose husband Min Zin – a scholar of Myanmar and Chinese‑Myanmar relations – is also being held.
Wives plead for presidential help
During an exclusive interview with Fox News senior foreign correspondent Gillian Turner, Rong and Zin described the hardship of having their husbands taken from them without due process. “My husband is an American citizen, the father of my son, and we terribly miss him,” Rong said. Zin added, “I really have no idea why he was taken; his research is open source and published online.” Both women emphasized that President Trump is the only official who can move the case forward.
Background on Dr. Chen’s detention
Dr. Chen was seized by Chinese agents outside Beijing’s airport in November 2024. According to a website dedicated to his release, agents confiscated his phone, iPad, laptop and cameras, then repeatedly accessed his email accounts. The website notes that Chen’s work focuses on monitoring nuclear tests by analyzing Earth’s crustal structures in Asia, including data from Chinese earthquake scientists. His publicly available reports have even been used to detect North Korean nuclear tests.
Chinese authorities have charged Chen with espionage, yet he has not received a trial after more than two years of imprisonment and remains denied contact with his family. Zin’s husband, Min Zin, was detained for his research on military governments and Chinese‑Myanmar relations, but no clear explanation has been provided for his arrest.
Trump administration’s track record
The Trump administration points to a recent report from the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation, which states that 83 U.S. nationals have been secured freedom abroad in the past year. This success underscores the administration’s commitment to protecting Americans overseas and its willingness to engage directly with foreign leaders on humanitarian cases.
Rong expressed confidence in the president’s ability to help, saying, “President Trump has done a lot for us. He has personally been involved in this case. I know whenever he gets personally involved, Americans come home.” Zin echoed the sentiment, adding that she is hopeful Trump’s intervention will bring her husband home.
What comes next
President Trump’s planned outreach to President Xi is expected to occur in the coming weeks, either through diplomatic channels or a direct request during upcoming bilateral talks. The administration has not disclosed the exact timing, but officials stress that the request will be made promptly to demonstrate America’s resolve in defending its citizens.
Advocacy groups and families of other wrongfully detained Americans have welcomed the move, noting that high‑level diplomatic pressure often yields results where lower‑level negotiations have stalled. The case also highlights broader concerns about the treatment of U.S. citizens in China and the need for continued vigilance in protecting American rights abroad.
Community response
Faith‑based and family‑focused organizations across the country have rallied behind the families, posting prayers and messages of support on social media. Many have praised President Trump’s personal involvement, viewing it as an affirmation of the administration’s commitment to American families and constitutional rights.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
