Family discloses U.S. seismologist held in China without trial for nearly two years, advocacy group says

A China-born American seismologist has been detained in China without trial for nearly two years, according to a disclosure from the scientist’s family reported Tuesday by The Washington Times. The family said the case has continued despite the absence of a public legal process, and they described the detention as ongoing as the family seeks answers and consular or legal access.

The Washington Times reported that an advocacy group advising the family made the update on Tuesday. The group’s remarks, as characterized by the report, indicate that the scientist’s detention has reached a length approaching two years and remains unresolved through a trial or other publicly described adjudication.

The development comes shortly before Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit the United States, the report said. The timing is likely to place renewed attention on detentions of U.S. citizens in China and on how both governments manage due process and consular rights during senior-level diplomacy.

According to The Washington Times, the case is one that President Donald Trump raised with Xi in the past. The report framed Tuesday’s disclosure as part of a broader spotlight on a set of reciprocal concerns in U.S.-China relations, where detentions and access to legal remedies have been recurring topics for families and rights advocates.

In its account, the reporting emphasized the family’s revelation of the detention length and the advocacy group’s role in assisting them. The report did not provide further detail in the excerpted summary on the specific charges, the location of custody, or whether any formal proceedings have been initiated.

As the detention continues, the next steps will depend on what communications or requests for access the family has pursued through channels available to them, and whether Chinese authorities provide information about the status of the case. The situation is also likely to remain on the agenda of U.S.-China engagement given the senior diplomatic timeline described by the report.

The case also underscores the practical impact of long detentions on family members, including uncertainty about a loved one’s legal status and physical well-being, particularly when the public record does not show trial proceedings or transparent case milestones. For U.S. officials, it adds to the pressure to address national-interest concerns tied to citizen protection and legal process while maintaining diplomatic channels.