{ "id": 9312648, "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-9312648", "topic": "world", "section": "World", "published": "2026-09-23T10:30:41.000Z", "source": { "name": "Daily Maverick", "slug": "daily-maverick", "url": "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-09-23-wife-of-us-seismologist-held-in-china-says-trump-will-ask-xi-to-free-him/" }, "original_language": "en", "account": "The wife of a US seismologist currently detained in China has claimed that President Donald Trump will request Chinese President Xi Jinping to release her husband during an upcoming meeting. Yufang Rong, the wife of Youlin Chen, expressed her apprehension regarding the potential espionage charges that China might bring against her husband, despite his research being openly published and conducted in collaboration with Chinese scientists using publicly available data. Trump will meet with Xi on Wednesday, as both nations seek stability amidst various global tensions, including trade disputes, Iran, and Taiwan issues. Chen, a 54-year-old American citizen, is one of two US individuals designated by the US government as wrongfully detained, with the other being Min Zin, a scholar arrested in June. Rong said Trump assured her of the request during a recent meeting at the White House with officials from the State Department and National Security Council. It's worth noting that another senior US official mentioned that resolving the wrongful detentions of US citizens is a top priority for the White House. China, however, maintains that Chen is being held for activities endangering national security and violating Chinese law, rejecting the notion of wrongful detention.", "summary": "The wife of a US expert on North Korean nuclear tests, imprisoned in China since late 2024, has been assured by the White House that President Donald Trump will ask Chinese leader Xi Jinping to free her husband when they meet. Yufang Rong's husband, Youlin Chen, a 54-year-old Chinese-born US-funded researcher, has been detained by Beijing, which the US has designated as \"wrongfully detained\".\n\nAccording to the Jerusalem Post, Rong fears her husband will be tried on fabricated espionage charges, despite his research being openly published and done in collaboration with Chinese scientists. The White House has also assured Rong that Trump will press Xi to release another American, Min Zin, a scholar arrested in June.\n\nTrump and Xi are set to meet at the White House on Thursday, with the US leader hosting the Chinese leader for a state dinner in the evening. The meeting comes amid tensions between the two countries on issues including trade, Iran, and Taiwan. The White House has made resolving the wrongful detentions of US citizens a top priority.", "key_points": [], "editors_take": null, "illustration": null, "coverage": { "outlets": 11, "also_reported_by": [ { "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", "published": "2026-09-23T01:02:03.000Z" }, { "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 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" }, { "outlet": "Nikkei Asia", "title": "India's battery cell firms scale back ambition as China partnerships sour", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/indias-battery-cell-firms-scale-back-ambition-as-china-partnerships", "published": "2026-09-23T02:09:43.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Hindustan Times - World News", "title": "Trump threatens to use tariff powers under Russia sanctions law targeting India, China; Zelensky agrees", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/trump-threatens-to-use-tariff-powers-under-russia-sanctions-law", "published": "2026-09-23T02:46:14.000Z" }, { "outlet": "The Japan News by The Yomiuri Shimbun", "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-9252958", "published": "2026-09-23T02:55:51.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Jerusalem Post", "title": "China's US ambassador warns about 'red lines' ahead of Trump, Xi meeting", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/chinas-us-ambassador-warns-about-red-lines-ahead-of-trump-xi-meeting", "published": "2026-09-23T03:14:40.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Ukrinform - Politics", "title": "Sanctions must remain in place and be strengthened as long as war continues, Zelensky says after meeting Burnham", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/sanctions-must-remain-in-place-and-be-strengthened-as-long-as-war", "published": "2026-09-23T03:18:00.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press", "title": "China’s Xi kicks off state visit to Washington on Wednesday with a rare planeside welcome from Trump", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/chinas-xi-kicks-off-state-visit-to-washington-on-wednesday-with-a", "published": "2026-09-23T04:04:51.000Z" }, { "outlet": "NDTV", "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-9283846", "published": "2026-09-23T05:59:05.000Z" } ] }, "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." }