China Detains US Scholar on Spying Suspicions

China’s foreign ministry confirmed on Friday the arrest of Min Zin, a US citizen who leads a think-tank focused on Myanmar. The ministry stated that Min Zin was suspected of spying and endangering Chinese national security.

Min Zin, executive director of the Institute for Strategy and Policy (ISP) – Myanmar, was detained after he flew into Kunming in southwest China three weeks ago. He has been placed under criminal detention by relevant authorities in accordance with the law on suspicion of engaging in espionage and endangering China’s national security.

The US State Department and ISP-Myanmar did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Reuters. The detention comes as the US and China are working to steady their frayed bilateral relationship following President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing last month.

Min Zin, a former student activist who participated in Myanmar’s 1988 democracy movement, studied political science at the University of California, Berkeley. He also helped establish the ISP, which was initially based inside Myanmar but moved overseas following the 2021 coup when the military ousted the democratically elected government of Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi.

The think-tank’s recent publications have focused on Myanmar’s political transition and failing economy since junta chief Min Aung Hlaing took over as president following a military-engineered election. China has publicly backed Myanmar’s new administration, which took office after a widely criticized vote that excluded the country’s main opposition groups, including Suu Kyi’s political party.