July 14, 2026

Youlin Chen Detained in China for Espionage; Family Calls for Action from Trump Administration

Youlin Chen, a U.S. citizen and seismologist, has been detained in China for over 18 months on espionage charges, with no trial date set.
His wife, Yufang Rong, has not spoken to him in over 600 days and is urging the Trump administration to take action for his release.
Chen is the only U.S. citizen designated as wrongfully detained in China, highlighting the diplomatic urgency of his case.
President Trump raised Chen's situation during a meeting with Xi Jinping, but the family reports no progress since his request.