Chairman Moolenaar Statement on the Wrongful Detention of American Dr. Youlin Chen

Dr. Youlin Chen, an American academic, was detained by Chinese authorities in November 2024 while visiting China and has reportedly been held in pre-trial detention for more than 400 days without access to legal counsel. Chen’s family recently went public regarding his continued detention in hopes of increasing public pressure on the Chinese government.

"The Chinese Communist Party's wrongful detention of Dr. Youlin Chen is a stark reminder that academic engagement with China carries risks that extend far beyond the theft of intellectual property and research. Dr. Chen is a respected American scientist who traveled to China as part of legitimate academic activities, yet he has now been detained for more than a year without due process. The Chinese Communist Party should immediately release Dr. Chen, drop its baseless allegations, and allow him to return home to his family in the United States,” said Chairman Moolenaar.

The detention of an American researcher engaged in academic collaboration demonstrates that the risks associated with research engagement in China are not limited to technology transfer concerns—they can also directly impact the safety and freedom of American citizens. As Congress considers the Securing Innovation and Research from Adversaries (SIRA) Act and other research security measures, Dr. Chen's experience serves as a powerful reminder that collaborations involving China-based entities must be carefully scrutinized to protect both American innovation and the researchers who advance it.