A Chinese-American seismologist in his 50s, Chen Yulin, has been detained in China for over 20 months while researching nuclear test detection technology related to North Korea.
According to Reuters on July 13, Chen, 54, was arrested by Chinese state security authorities at Beijing International Airport on November 5, 2024, while attempting to return to Boston, Massachusetts, after visiting family in China and giving lectures at two universities.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio designated Chen as a 'wrongfully detained' individual on March 19. According to Chen's family and hostage advocacy groups, he is currently the only American in China officially recognized by the U.S. government as wrongfully detained.
Chen was charged with espionage in May of last year, but he has yet to stand trial. In China, espionage charges can carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, and in severe cases, the death penalty may be imposed.
There are claims in the U.S. that China may be utilizing Chen's expertise to develop technology to conceal underground nuclear tests. Chen has been studying the seismic waves generated by North Korean nuclear tests. Reports indicate that Chinese authorities have interrogated him over 100 times regarding his research on North Korean nuclear tests since his detention.
His paper published in December 2020 addressed the scale of six nuclear tests believed to have been conducted by North Korea and methods to distinguish the seismic waves from those of natural earthquakes. This research was conducted in collaboration with Chinese scholars, supported by the U.S. State Department's arms control office and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, using publicly available Chinese data, with the paper marked as 'approved for public distribution.'
Chen's family suspects that China aims to leverage his expertise in 'decoupling' technology, which weakens seismic signals from underground nuclear explosions, making detection more difficult. The Trump administration claimed in February that China attempted to conceal a low-yield underground nuclear test conducted on June 22, 2020, using decoupling technology. China has denied any allegations of nuclear testing.
Chen's detention is expected to become another point of contention in U.S.-China relations. His wife reported that during President Donald Trump's visit to Beijing in May, he raised the issue of her husband's detention with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
President Xi responded that he would look into the matter, but no significant actions have been reported since then. With Xi scheduled to visit the U.S. in September, the issue of Chen's release may be revisited as a topic of discussion between the leaders.
Chen's family explained that the Trump administration did not publicly disclose his designation as a wrongfully detained individual to leave room for negotiations for his release through high-level diplomacy.
Initially, Chen was reportedly required to sit in a hard chair all day, with restrictions on standing, reading, or exercising. His family claims he has not received adequate medication for pre-existing conditions like diabetes, resulting in a weight loss of 30 to 40 pounds.
U.S. embassy officials in China have visited Chen multiple times, but it is reported that a Chinese official was always present, making free conversation difficult. A Chinese lawyer hired by Chen's family was only able to meet him for the first time after 13 months of his detention.
The Chinese government maintains that the actions taken are in accordance with legal judicial procedures. On July 14, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated at a regular briefing, 'China is a country governed by the rule of law, and judicial authorities handle cases according to the law,' adding that the so-called 'wrongful detention' does not exist.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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