China has detained U.S. seismologist Chen Youlin on espionage charges, according to his family and hostage‑advocacy organisations. The 54‑year‑old was arrested in November 2024 while visiting Beijing, where he had been collaborating with Chinese colleagues to monitor nuclear tests.
Chen’s research focuses on seismic data used to identify nuclear detonations, with a particular emphasis on North Korea – a country close to China yet heavily sanctioned for its nuclear program. His wife, Rong Yufang, also a seismologist, insists the allegations are false and that their joint work is openly conducted.
The detention follows U.S. intelligence reports suggesting China may be conducting undisclosed nuclear tests. Beijing denies any activity against the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty and has denied the accusations.
China’s foreign ministry said its judicial authorities handle the case “according to the law” and denied any wrongful detention. In China, espionage convictions can carry severe penalties, including life imprisonment or death.
Chen is the only U.S. citizen labeled as “wrongfully detained” by the U.S. government. He has been held for over 600 days without legal access to counsel or family contact.
His health is a concern; he suffers from diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol and requires medical care that he has not received while incarcerated, according to the Foley Foundation.
U.S. Senator Edward Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat, described the detention as undermining U.S.–China partnership and potentially deterring academic exchange. He pressed for increased pressure on Beijing to release Chen.
The arrest follows the detention of another U.S. scholar, Min Zin, a director of a Myanmar‑focused think‑tank, whom Beijing accused of spying. The two cases highlight growing tensions between the U.S. and China over foreign academics and national security concerns.
