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China has detained US nuclear seismology expert since 2024, family reveals

The Guardian UK Wednesday 15 July 2026, 03:57 UTC By Agence France-Presse in Washington 1 min read
Key Points

Beijing may be using Youlin Chen’s knowledge to devise ways of staging nuclear tests without detection, advocates for his release from spying charges suggestAn American seismologist has been detained in China on espionage charges since 2024, his family has revealed, saying Donald Trump’s direct appeal for the scientist’s release to his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, went unanswered. Youlin Chen – who has researched how to detect underground nuclear tests using seismological data – was...

Beijing may be using Youlin Chen’s knowledge to devise ways of staging nuclear tests without detection, advocates for his release from spying charges suggest

An American seismologist has been detained in China on espionage charges since 2024, his family has revealed, saying Donald Trump’s direct appeal for the scientist’s release to his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, went unanswered.

Youlin Chen – who has researched how to detect underground nuclear tests using seismological data – was detained on 5 November 2024, according to a statement from the NGO Global Reach, which is working with his family to secure his freedom.

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China (LOCATION) US (LOCATION) Beijing (LOCATION) Youlin Chen (PERSON) American (ORG) Donald Trump’s (PERSON) Chinese (ORG) Xi Jinping (PERSON) the NGO Global Reach (ORG)
Originally published by The Guardian UK Read original →

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