{
  "id": 9232320,
  "title": "Wife of US seismologist held in China says Trump will ask Xi to free him",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/wife-of-us-seismologist-held-in-china-says-trump-will-ask-xi-to-free",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-23T01:02:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/world/20260923/wife-of-us-seismologist-held-in-china-says-trump-will-ask-xi-to-free-him"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On Tuesday, the wife of a U.S. seismologist imprisoned in China, Yufang Rong, announced that President Donald Trump will request Chinese President Xi Jinping to free her husband during their upcoming meeting, according to the White House. Yufang expressed her apprehension over China's potential prosecution of her Chinese-born husband, Youlin Chen, on fabricated espionage charges despite the fact that his research was funded by the U.S., publicly published, and based on publicly available data. The Trump administration, alongside State Department and National Security Council officials, assured Rong of Trump's commitment to securing his release. Chen, 54, is one of two U.S. citizens wrongfully detained by China, with the other being scholar Min Zin, whose case is also at the forefront of the U.S.'s priority list for their release.",
  "summary": "WASHINGTON — The wife of a U.S. expert on North Korean nuclear tests who has been imprisoned in China since late 2024 said on Tuesday the White House has assured her that President Donald Trump will ask Chinese leader Xi Jinping to free her husband when the pair meet this week. Yufang Rong said she feared that Beijing planned to try her Chinese-born husband, Youlin Chen, on fabricated espionage…",
  "key_points": [
    "Yufang Rong, wife of imprisoned US seismologist, says Trump will ask Xi for his release.",
    "Yufang fears wrongful espionage charges against her husband, despite publicly funded research.",
    "Trump administration assures Rong of commitment to secure Chen's release."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The Trump administration's pledge to secure Youlin Chen's release marks a significant elevation of the case, as US officials increasingly prioritize freeing wrongfully detained American citizens held in China.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "China’s US ambassador warns on ‘red lines’ ahead of Trump, Xi meeting",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/chinas-us-ambassador-warns-on-red-lines-ahead-of-trump-xi-meeting",
        "published": "2026-09-23T01:02:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Wife of US seismologist held in China says Trump will ask Xi to free him",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/wife-of-us-seismologist-held-in-china-says-trump-will-ask-xi-to-free-9235544",
        "published": "2026-09-23T01:22:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Mainichi",
        "title": "Japan's Takaichi meets with Trump ahead of U.S.-China summit",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/japans-takaichi-meets-with-trump-ahead-of-u-s-china-summit",
        "published": "2026-09-23T01:55:51.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}