Washington D.C. – Senator Ed Markey, Sept. 17, 2026
Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.), along with Senator John Curtis (R-Utah) and Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), today introduced a bipartisan resolution that condemns the People’s Republic of China’s repeated pattern of arbitrary or wrongful detention of American academics and urges the United States government to prioritize the safe return of all United States citizens wrongfully detained in China, including Massachusetts resident and academic Dr. Youlin Chen, and American scholar Min Zin. Congressman Stephen Lynch (MA-08) and Congressman John Moolenaar, Chairman of the House Select Committee on China (MI-02), led a companion resolution in the House of Representatives.
The resolution expresses that the Senate:
– Condemns the People’s Republic of China’s repeated pattern of arbitrary or wrongful detention of United States citizens.
– Urges the United States government to make the safe return of United States citizens detained in China a top priority, including the return of Dr. Chen and Min Zin.
– Urges the Secretary of State to use all available tools to press for the release of all United States nationals being unlawfully or wrongfully detained in the People’s Republic of China.
“The wrongful detainment of innocent civilians is never justifiable and should always be condemned in the strongest possible terms. We owe it to the American people to stand up and speak out when our citizens are wrongfully detained in foreign prisons. It is my hope that this bipartisan resolution from the United States Congress will bring increased attention to the unjust detention of Dr. Youlin Chen and Min Zin and force the Chinese government to do the right thing and release them immediately. I am praying for Dr. Chen, Mr. Zin, and their families today,” said Senator Markey.
