U.S. authorities are currently searching for a former university professor, who disappeared in China. He is suspected by federal authorities of leaking American state and commercial secrets to the Chinese government.

Rongxing Li was a distinguished professor at the Ohio State University (OSU). In 2014, he abruptly quit the university post he had held for almost two decades through an e-mail. Aside from teaching, Li also was involved in two NASA space missions to Mars. Li is an American citizen, but spent of most of his childhood years in China.

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The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) claims to have received disturbing reports that Li is passing vital government and commercial information to China. After Li submitted a proposal for an upcoming Mars mission, OSU became suspicious. When confronted about the matter, Li denied having any ties with China.

In March 2014, federal agents got hold of Li's spouse, who was about to board a plane bound for China. When Jue Tian was searched, authorities found several digital storage devices that contained incriminating evidences against Li. Agents also went to the couple's house to look for evidence. So far, the U.S. justice department is yet to file a case against Li.

Li mentioned in his email that he was going back to China to tend to his mother who was reportedly sick. But his whereabouts is unknown since he left United States soil.

Meanwhile, Shanghai-based Tongji University (TJU) has defended Li against accusations that he is secretly working for the Chinese government, according to Global Times. A TJU spokesperson, Wu Weimin, claims that Li resigned from the American university and transferred to their school in order to be near his ailing parents.

Wu said that visited that Li visited their school while he was still an OSU professor. Li assumed his new post in the university in the early part of 2015. The spokesperson belied the U.S. government's assertion that Li shared vital American secrets with their country.

Wu told the press that they have been informed by Li's American legal counsel that the case against him has been settled.

Tagsrongxing li, Ohio State University, OSU, Tongji University, TJU, FBI, mars exploration, US-China relations, Chinese spy