The Chinese authorities have detained US citizen Min Zin on suspicion of espionage and threatening national security. This was announced by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian.
According to her, Min was detained “in accordance with the law”. China has also informed the US Consulate General in Guangzhou of the American’s arrest.
According to Reuters, citing sources, Min Zin works as executive director of the Institute for Strategy and Policy Myanmar (ISP Myanmar). This is a think tank that studies the political and military situation in the country. According to the agency’s sources, Min was detained upon his arrival in the city of Kunming in south-west China around two weeks ago.
Earlier, The New York Times reported that Min Zin disappeared on 3 June whilst in Kunming. The newspaper linked his disappearance to the actions of the Chinese authorities.
Ming Zin took part in the pro-democracy movement in Myanmar in 1988 and subsequently studied political science at the University of California, Berkeley.
Following the military coup in Myanmar in 2021, the think tank he founded relocated its operations outside the country and continued to research the political situation, the civil war and the activities of the military regime.
The arrest took place against the backdrop of attempts by Washington and Beijing to stabilise relations following recent contacts between the leaderships of the two countries.