An American nuclear seismologist detained in China for nearly two years

Chen Youlin, a Chinese-American researcher specializing in seismic detection of nuclear tests, has been imprisoned in Beijing since November 2024 on espionage charges. His family has decided to break their silence after realizing there is no prospect of his release.

Chen Youlin, 54, was arrested during a trip to Beijing to visit his family. He was denied access to a lawyer for the first 13 months of his detention, and his wife, Rong Yufang, says she hasn't been able to speak to him for over 600 days. The hostage rights group Global Reach brought the case to light at the family's request.

Born in China, Chen obtained American citizenship in 2011 and resides in Boston. His work focuses on using seismic data to identify and characterize underground nuclear tests, particularly those conducted by North Korea. Several of his projects have been funded by the U.S. government. His wife, herself a seismologist, emphasizes that this research has always been conducted "transparently" with Chinese colleagues, and that the accusations are "both false and inconsistent with the public and collaborative nature of his work."

Asked about the allegations at a daily press briefing on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian dismissed the criticism: "The judicial authorities are handling cases in accordance with the law. There is no arbitrary detention." In China, a conviction for espionage can carry a sentence of up to life imprisonment or even the death penalty.

Chen is currently the only American citizen officially designated as "wrongfully detained" by Washington. Global Reach cites "suspicions within the US government" that his arrest was motivated by nuclear tests conducted by China in violation of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. The organization argues that Chen's expertise would offer Beijing an opportunity to learn more about US seismic detection methods in order to develop countermeasures.

Neither the United States nor China has ratified this treaty, but both countries have established voluntary moratoria on explosive nuclear tests. In June 2020, the Trump administration accused Beijing of conducting clandestine underground tests at the Lop Nur site in the northwest of the country. China rejected these allegations as unfounded and politically motivated.

The Foley Foundation, another American hostage advocacy organization, is concerned about Chen's health, as he suffers from diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol. Democratic Senator Edward Markey of Massachusetts stated that the treatment Chen is receiving "harms the Sino-American partnership" and risks discouraging other academics from collaborating with their Chinese counterparts.

This case comes a month after China confirmed the arrest of another American academic, Min Zin, director of a think tank specializing in Burma, who was also accused of espionage and endangering Chinese national security.