Washington, September 18, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
US lawmakers are urging President Donald Trump to raise the cases of Americans detained in China and press Beijing over access to advanced artificial intelligence technology ahead of his expected meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping next week.
The separate demands came amid heightened congressional scrutiny of US-China relations, with lawmakers focusing on the detention of American citizens and restrictions on China’s access to advanced AI chips and manufacturing equipment.
On Thursday, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer called on Trump to prevent China from obtaining America’s most advanced AI chips and semiconductor manufacturing equipment. Schumer argued that restricting access to cutting-edge technology was necessary to maintain US leadership in artificial intelligence and limit associated security risks.
Separately, lawmakers have urged Trump to raise the cases of American citizens Youlin Chen and Min Zin with Xi. The US State Department has designated both men as wrongfully detained in China, according to congressional and US media reports.
Chen, a US citizen who conducted seismological research with Chinese academics, was arrested in November 2024 on espionage allegations. Supporters in Congress have described the charges as baseless and called for his release.
Min Zin, a US citizen and scholar associated with Myanmar-focused policy research, was detained at Kunming Changshui International Airport in June 2026 while travelling to an academic event in Yunnan. China has accused him of endangering national security, while US officials have designated his detention as wrongful.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has scheduled a closed briefing on September 23 titled “Combating and Deterring Wrongful Detentions: An Update on U.S. Efforts”, underscoring the issue’s prominence ahead of the expected Trump-Xi engagement.
House lawmakers have also held hearings on China’s treatment of American citizens. At a September 16 hearing, Sylvia Zin, Min Zin’s wife, testified about his detention and urged greater US action.
Meanwhile, Representative Ro Khanna has been advocating for greater international cooperation on AI safety. His office has called for discussions with China on basic safety standards and verification mechanisms for advanced AI systems, including concerns over systems operating beyond effective human control.
Khanna is the ranking member of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, which has continued to hold hearings on technology, security and human rights issues involving China.
The congressional statements came without responses from the Chinese government or the companies named in connection with proposed AI-safety discussions in the supplied material.
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