This House resolution says the People's Republic of China has engaged in arbitrary or wrongful detention of American academics and others and that this has harmed scientific collaboration and people-to-people exchanges. It condemns the detentions, urges the safe return of detained U.S. citizens, and asks the Secretary of State to use tools to press for releases. The resolution names two U.S. citizens: Dr. Youlin Chen (arrested November 5, 2024; held more than 600 days without a trial or access to his family; deprived of a lawyer for the first 434 days; interrogated more than 100 times) and Min Zin (detained June 3, 2026 at Kunming airport and held by the Kunming Municipal State Security Bureau; has not yet had access to legal counsel). The resolution also notes that Secretaries of State have determined at least five U.S. citizens were wrongfully detained in the PRC since December 27, 2020 under the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act. It urges the Secretary of State to consider adding a "D" indicator to the China Travel Advisory, to review whether the advisory level for China should be raised from Level 2 to Level 3, and to review the criteria for designation as a State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention. The resolution supports the President's efforts to raise these detention concerns.
If you travel to China or work with Chinese institutions, this resolution calls on U.S. officials to highlight risks of wrongful detention and to consider stronger travel guidance. It asks officials to make the return of detained Americans a top priority and to review travel and wrongful-detention designations that could affect travel guidance and official messaging.
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Supporters say the PRC's use of arbitrary or wrongful detention undermines the rule of law, harms families, and amounts to coercive "hostage diplomacy." They argue naming detained individuals and pressing for their release will protect Americans and help restore trust needed for academic and scientific exchanges. The resolution frames unconditional release of the named individuals as a chance for the PRC to show good faith before a planned leadership visit to Washington, D.C.
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