China Confirms Arrest of US Researcher on Espionage Charges

BEIJING – The Chinese government has arrested a US citizen on charges of espionage, the country’s foreign ministry confirmed on Friday.

The arrested individual has been identified as Min Zin (also known as U Min Zin), a Myanmar-born American national. He is the Executive Director of the Institute for Strategy and Policy – Myanmar (ISP-Myanmar) and a political analyst. He was detained on June 3 at the airport in Kunming, the capital of China’s Yunnan province, where he had arrived to attend a conference.

Foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian told a press briefing, “Min Zin is being legally prosecuted on suspicion of engaging in espionage activities that endangered China’s national security. All of his legal rights are being fully protected, and the US consulate has been notified.”

Min Zin was a student activist during Myanmar’s 1988 pro-democracy uprising, following which he fled to Thailand to avoid arrest. He later moved to the United States, where he is currently pursuing a PhD in Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley. He had been residing in Thailand.

China rarely arrests foreign nationals on national security charges. The detention comes just weeks after US President Donald Trump’s visit to China and ahead of next week’s scheduled Beijing visit by Myanmar’s President Min Aung Hlaing.

Min Zin’s research has largely focused on China–Myanmar relations, China’s foreign policy, and Myanmar’s internal conflicts. The US State Department has stated that it is aware of the situation and will provide appropriate consular assistance. His family and colleagues are reportedly in contact with both Chinese authorities and the US embassy.

Min Zin was scheduled to speak at an international conference in Kathmandu later this month.