China on Tuesday rejected accusations that it is wrongfully detaining a U.S. citizen, following a report that American seismologist Youlin Chen has been held in the country for nearly two years and faces trial on spying charges. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the case is being handled in accordance with the rule of law.
Youlin Chen, 54, who was born in China, was arrested at Beijing Capital International Airport on November 5, 2024, as he was preparing to board a flight back to Boston. According to reports, Chen had been involved in U.S.-funded research aimed at detecting North Korean nuclear tests.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio officially designated Chen as "wrongfully detained" in March, making his release a significant U.S. priority. Chen's wife, Yufang Rong, told Reuters that the Trump administration had initially withheld publicizing her husband's case, hoping that high-level diplomacy might secure his release. Rong stated that President Trump had raised her husband's detention with Chinese leader Xi Jinping during a state visit to Beijing in May, but Chen remains imprisoned.
A spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lin Jian, said during a regular media briefing on July 14, 2026, at 11:57 AM EDT, "China is a country governed by rule of law, and the relevant department handles the case in accordance with the rule of law. There is no instance of wrongful detention." The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Chen's detention came to light shortly after another U.S. citizen, Min Zin, was arrested in China last month. Zin, a U.S. scholar and director of a Myanmar-focused think tank, was detained at an airport in Kunming while in China for a meeting. He has been accused of spying and endangering Chinese national security.
The Foley Foundation, an advocacy group that assists the U.S. government with hostage cases, reports that at least 12 American citizens are currently being wrongfully detained in China. Rong expressed fears that China will convict her husband of espionage, a charge that carries a potential sentence of life imprisonment or even the death penalty. She anticipates the trial will be held behind closed doors.
Rong alleges that her husband has been interrogated over 100 times and was denied access to a lawyer for 13 months. While U.S. embassy officials have visited Chen multiple times, these visits have always been accompanied by Chinese officials, according to Reuters. She further claims that during the initial period of his detention, Chen endured harsh conditions, was unable to obtain necessary medication for his diabetes and other health issues, lost between 30 to 40 pounds due to insufficient food, and received only poor-quality medication.
President Trump is expected to discuss both Chen's and Zin's cases with Xi Jinping when the Chinese leader visits Washington in September.
