--- title: "US State Department Calls Detention of American Scientist in China Illegal: Case Becomes Priority Ahead of Trump-Xi Meeting" description: "The US State Department declared the detention of American scientist Wu Min Jin and seismologist Yulin Chen in China illegal. The case has become a priority ahead of the September meeting between Trump and Xi Jinping." date: 2026-08-21T04:34:03.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/us-state-department-china-scientist-detention-illegal-trump-xi-meeting tags: [us-china-relation, state-department, marco-rubio, trump, xi-jinping, detention, espionage] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # US State Department Calls Detention of American Scientist in China Illegal: Case Becomes Priority Ahead of Trump-Xi Meeting ![Flags of the USA and China amid diplomatic tension over a detained American scientist ahead of the Trump-Si meeting](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/21/us-state-dept-china-scientist-detention/us-state-dept-china-scientist-detention-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - The US State Department stated that American scientist Wu Min Jin, detained on June 3 in Yunnan province, is being illegally held in China. - The department also noted the illegal detention of seismologist Yulin Chen, who was detained at the end of last year. - China stated in June that there was suspicion of espionage and a threat to national security; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately comment on the new statement. - The case has become a priority for the Trump administration ahead of the September meeting with Xi Jinping; Pastor Jin Mingri was previously released. The US State Department has officially stated that China is illegally detaining American scientist Wu Min Jin. According to reports, this case has been elevated to a priority for the Donald Trump administration ahead of the upcoming meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. As clarified in the statement, the decision to review the detention status was made by Secretary of State Marco Rubio following an analysis of the circumstances under which Min Jin was detained on June 3 in the southwestern Chinese province of Yunnan, where he had traveled for an academic conference at the invitation of the Chinese government. ### Washington's Position: Citizen Safety is the Top Priority The State Department emphasized that protecting Americans abroad is a key mission of the agency. "The safety of US citizens is the top priority of the State Department," said Deputy Secretary of State Dylan Johnson. He added that the US "will continue to advocate for Mr. Zin and call for the release of all US citizens who are arbitrarily detained or denied exit from China." Thus, Washington has publicly classified the detention as arbitrary and inconsistent with international obligations. ### Beijing's Response and a Second Detained Seismologist The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Earlier, in June, the Chinese side stated that Min Jin was detained on suspicion of espionage and creating a threat to national security, and the US Consulate in Guangzhou was informed of the coercive measure. In addition to him, the State Department reported that another US citizen — seismologist Yulin Chen (Chen) — is being illegally detained in China; he was detained at the end of last year and was recognized by the department as illegally detained in March, Reuters reports. ### Context: Visits, Zion Church, and the September Meeting The issue of detained American citizens has previously been raised at the highest level: during the May visit to Beijing, Donald Trump discussed with Xi Jinping, among other things, the fate of Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri, the leader of a well-known underground Chinese church. Later, China released the pastor, who returned to Los Angeles on July 4, although several members of the Zion Church he leads remain in custody. The James W. Foley Legacy Foundation, which protects Americans illegally detained abroad, supported Rubio's call, stating that "as President Trump and President Xi prepare for a new meeting on September 24, Dr. Chen and Min Jin must return home." Recall that in May of this year, Trump visited China for the first time in nine years, where he met with Xi Jinping and agreed on a number of important issues, including economic ones. ### Contradictory Data Discrepancies are observed in the available materials, which the editorial team records openly. First, the surname and first name of the main figure are recorded differently in different fragments of the text — "Wu Min Jin", "Min Jin", "Min Jin" and "Mr. Zin", which does not allow for an unambiguous establishment of the canonical spelling without additional verification. Second, the chronology of contacts at the highest level is not fully consistent: in one place it is said that preparations are underway for a "new meeting on September 24", in another — that Xi Jinping will arrive for an official visit to the US next month for the first time in 11 years, but will miss one of the political events in New York. These inconsistencies in dates and meeting formats require additional verification before final publication. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [US Accuses Beijing of Illegal Detention of American Scientist: What Is Known](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/ssha-zvinuvatili-pekin-nezakonnomu-zatrimanni-1787286470.html) - Источник подтверждает заявление Госдепа о незаконном удержании У Мин Цзина и Юлиня Чэня, позицию Рубио и Джонсона, ответ МИД КНР о шпионаже, освобождение пастора Цзинь Мингри 4 июля и призыв Фонда Фоли. Зафиксированы расхождения в написании имени ученого и в хронологии сентябрьской встречи/визита Си. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: Who does the US State Department say China is illegally detaining? **A:** The State Department named American scientist Wu Min Jin, detained on June 3 in Yunnan province, and seismologist Yulin Chen, detained at the end of last year, as illegally detained. ### Q: What position did Deputy Secretary of State Dylan Johnson express? **A:** He stated that the safety of US citizens is the top priority of the State Department and that the department will continue to advocate for Mr. Zin and call for the release of all Americans arbitrarily detained in China. ### Q: What did China say about the detention of Min Jin? **A:** In June, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that he was detained on suspicion of espionage and creating a threat to national security, and the US Consulate in Guangzhou was informed. The department did not immediately respond to the new request for comment. ### Q: Is this case related to the upcoming contacts between Trump and Xi? **A:** Yes, according to the text, the case has become a priority for the Trump administration ahead of the meeting with Xi Jinping; the Foley Foundation called for Chen and Min Jin to return home ahead of the September 24 meeting.