An American scientist who has studied underground nuclear tests has been detained in China for more than 18 months on spying charges, according to his supporters and a US lawmaker. Youlin Chen, a seismologist, has been wrongfully detained since November 2024, US Senator Edward Markey said in a statement.

Background

Chen, who was living in Boston and has a college-age son, is the only American currently held in China designated as wrongfully detained, according to Global Reach, a US non-profit that has been working with Chen’s family on his case. President Donald Trump raised Chen’s detention and asked for his freedom during a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing in May.

Chen’s work focuses on using seismological data to improve methods to identify and monitor nuclear tests. It has included research into North Korea’s underground nuclear testing. His research has been funded by the US State Department and US Air Force Research Laboratory.

A State Department spokesperson told CNN that the US has raised Chen’s case directly with Chinese officials and called for his immediate release. China’s Foreign Ministry denied that Chen was wrongfully detained and said judicial authorities handle cases in accordance with the law.

Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.