Washington – As President Trump prepares for a high‑stakes summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Yufang Rong, the wife of detained Chinese‑American seismologist Dr. Youlin Chen, voiced a hopeful plea that the President will raise her husband’s case directly with Xi.
Family seeks presidential intervention
Chen, 54, was seized by China’s state security agents in November 2024 while returning from a personal visit to his parents in Beijing. Charged with espionage – a charge his family flatly denies – the scientist has been held without trial for nearly two years. His wife told the Associated Press that his work, which includes monitoring earthquakes and analyzing nuclear tests, is open, collaborative, and entirely lawful.
“When the President is personally involved in such cases, Americans come back home. That’s what I’ve learned,” Rong said. She added that President Trump spoke with Xi about Chen during a May visit to Beijing and expressed confidence that a repeat mention at the upcoming summit could lead to a swift resolution.
Administration’s firm stance on detained Americans
The White House has repeatedly emphasized President Trump’s commitment to securing the return of every American unjustly detained abroad. In a recent statement, the administration affirmed that “our diplomatic efforts will focus on bringing home those who belong with their families in the United States.” This stance aligns with a bipartisan congressional resolution introduced last week, which condemns China’s wrongful detention of U.S. scholars and urges the government to prioritize their safe release.
Sen. Ed Markey (D‑Mass.) highlighted the resolution, saying, “It is my hope that this bipartisan effort will bring increased attention to the unjust detention of Dr. Youlin Chen and Min Zin and force the Chinese government to do the right thing and release them immediately.” While the resolution enjoys broad support, it also underscores the administration’s proactive diplomatic approach.
Broader concerns and congressional action
Chen is one of only two American citizens the U.S. government currently identifies as wrongfully detained in China, the other being Min Zin, a scholar of Myanmar politics. Lawmakers have also raised concerns about the detention of activists, Christians, and members of ethnic minorities, urging President Trump to address these cases with Xi.
Rong described her husband’s daily life in detention as “unthinkable,” noting his chronic health conditions – diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol – and her fear that he lacks access to necessary medication. She said Chen communicates through notes dictated to U.S. consular officials, reassuring her that he remains hopeful despite the hardships.
What’s at stake for the United States
The upcoming summit presents a rare diplomatic window for President Trump to combine discussions on artificial‑intelligence security, Iran, and other strategic issues with a direct appeal for the release of detained Americans. By foregrounding these humanitarian concerns, the administration aims to demonstrate a firm yet principled stance on protecting U.S. citizens abroad while pursuing broader foreign‑policy objectives.
Rong remains optimistic that President Trump’s personal involvement will tip the scales. “If he mentions the case again this week, I’m sure this case would be solved soon,” she said.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
