Xue Feng

This is a Chinese name; the family name is Xue.
Xue Feng
Born February 6, 1965
Xi'an, China
Nationality United States
Alma mater University of Chicago
Employer formerly IHS Inc. and C&C Reservoirs.
Known for American geologist arrested and tortured on suspicion of violating states secrets law
Home town Houston, Texas
Spouse(s) Nan Kang

Xue Feng (Chinese: 薛峰; pinyin: Xuē Fēng; born February 6, 1965),[1] a naturalized American citizen, is a geologist who worked for IHS Inc. and was sentenced to 8 years of prison by Chinese authorities for espionage. Dr. Xue was released and immediately deported to the U.S. on April 3, 2015 from the Beijing No.2 Prison after being incarcerated since November 20, 2007.[2]

Life

Xue Feng was born on February 6, 1965 near the city of Xi'an in Shaanxi province in China.[1] While pursuing a geology degree at Xi'an's Northwest University in the late 1980s and early 1990s, he acted as an interpreter and guide for visiting geologists. One geologist that he met, David Rowley, invited him to do his PhD at the University of Chicago.[1]

While at the University of Chicago, Xue Feng worked on ultra-high-pressure metamorphism, a transformation that can be seen in rocks that have been to depths of 70 km or more. He graduated with a doctoral degree in geology. He worked as the Northeast Asia manager for IHS Inc. On Nov. 20, 2007, Xue was detained by Chinese authorities. He was eventually charged with espionage.[3][4][5]

According to the Associated Press, Xue has been tortured in prison. He has a wife, Nan Kang, and two children.

Publications

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Areddy, James T. (1 December 2010). "China's Culture of Secrecy Brands Research as Spying". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  2. "US geologist released by China: group". Taipei Times. Agence France Presse. 5 April 2015. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  3. Charles Hutzler (19 Nov 2009). "Xue Feng, American Geologist, Held And Mistreated By China". Huffpost World. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  4. "The long and obscure arm of the law". The Economist. 5 Jul 2010. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  5. Cohen, Jerome (1 March 2011). "Legal Pitfalls". South China Morning Post (SCMP Group). Retrieved 2011-03-03. Full text available at the Council on Foreign Relations.