President Trump will ask Chinese President Xi Jinping to release a detained American seismologist when the two leaders meet in Washington this week, according to the scientist's wife and U.S. officials, marking the latest effort to secure freedom for Americans held abroad by Beijing on espionage charges.

Youlin Chen, a Chinese-born American geophysicist who conducted U.S.-funded research on detecting North Korean nuclear tests, has been detained in China without trial for nearly two years. His family has had no contact with him for over 600 days and public disclosure of his case comes as Xi prepares for a state visit to the United States from Wednesday through Friday.

Research Linked to Nuclear Test Detection

Chen's detention appears connected to his work on seismic monitoring of North Korean nuclear activity. The U.S. government has accused China of attempting to conceal a suspected low-yield nuclear test blast that occurred on June 22, 2020. China denies conducting the test, though it has signed but not ratified the 1996 international nuclear test ban treaty.

Chen published peer-reviewed research on methodologies for detecting nuclear explosions through seismic data analysis. His work was funded by U.S. government agencies and contributed to American capabilities for monitoring nuclear weapons development in North Korea.

China has charged Chen with espionage, a common tactic Beijing uses when detaining foreign nationals involved in sensitive scientific or strategic research. Chinese authorities face trial procedures that lack transparency and due process protections standard in Western legal systems.

Trump Raised Case Previously

Trump spoke with Xi about Chen's detention when the president visited Beijing in May, according to Chen's wife, Rong. She expressed hope that raising the issue again during Xi's Washington visit would lead to her husband's release.

"If Trump mentions the case again this week, I'm sure this case would be solved soon," Rong said. The White House has stated Trump wants every American detained abroad to return home, making hostage diplomacy a priority of his second term.

Timing Coincides With High-Stakes Summit

Xi's state visit comes at a delicate moment in U.S.-China relations. The two nations are navigating trade tensions, technology competition, and security concerns while Trump faces pressure from midterm elections in November. The meeting provides both leaders an opportunity to demonstrate diplomatic progress.

American tech executives are expected to attend a dinner as part of the summit, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met with China's Vice Premier ahead of the high-stakes talks. The agenda will likely cover economic cooperation, but human rights issues including detained Americans remain contentious.

Pattern of Hostage Diplomacy

China has detained numerous American citizens in recent years, often on vague espionage or national security charges. These cases typically involve individuals with ethnic Chinese heritage who conduct research or business activities that Beijing views as threatening to state interests.

The practice serves multiple Chinese government purposes. It sends warnings to Chinese citizens living abroad about maintaining loyalty to Beijing. It provides leverage in diplomatic negotiations with Washington. And it intimidates foreign researchers from working on topics China considers sensitive.

U.S. officials have limited tools for securing releases beyond diplomatic pressure. Economic sanctions risk escalating broader tensions, while prisoner exchanges require China to acknowledge wrongdoing, which Beijing rarely does.

Families Travel to Washington

Chen's family has traveled to Washington to meet senior U.S. officials ahead of Xi's visit, hoping to raise the profile of his detention. Advocacy groups advising the family revealed details of the case publicly for the first time in July, roughly two months before Xi's expected visit.

The Chinese embassy in Washington has not responded to questions about Chen's case or other detained Americans, maintaining the position that these are internal Chinese legal matters not subject to foreign interference.