"News PlatformNG" reports that China's Foreign Ministry has confirmed the arrest of US-based scholar and Myanmar expert Min Zin, accusing him of engaging in espionage activities and endangering China's national security.
The confirmation follows earlier reports that Min Zin, a prominent analyst on Myanmar affairs, was detained in early June while visiting the southwestern Chinese city of Kunming, which shares a border with Myanmar. Sources familiar with the matter had previously disclosed the arrest to international media outlets, though Chinese authorities have released few details about the allegations.
According to reports, Min Zin disappeared while attending a meeting in Kunming on June 3 and was later arrested at the airport. The detention has drawn attention internationally, as China rarely arrests US citizens on national security-related charges.
The development comes amid a period of heightened diplomatic engagement between Beijing and Washington. Just weeks earlier, US President Donald Trump visited China for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, a trip that was marked by a high-profile reception and discussions on bilateral relations.
The arrest also precedes an expected visit to Beijing by Myanmar's military ruler, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, next week. China maintains close ties with Myanmar's military-led government, which seized power following a coup in 2021.
Min Zin is widely recognized for his role in Myanmar's pro-democracy movement. As a student activist during the 1988 uprising against military rule, he fled to Thailand to avoid arrest before later relocating to the United States for further studies. He subsequently returned to Myanmar in 2010 and has remained active in political and policy research.
He currently serves as Executive Director of the Thailand-based Myanmar Institute for Strategic and Policy Studies (ISP-Myanmar), a think tank that examines China's influence, strategic interests, and engagement in Myanmar. He is also reportedly pursuing a PhD at the University of California, Berkeley.
Sources quoted by AFP said Min Zin's family has expressed concern over his detention and is working with the US Consulate in Guangzhou to obtain information about his status and wellbeing.
The scholar had been scheduled to speak at an international conference in Kathmandu later this month. As of the time of this report, Chinese authorities have not disclosed further details regarding the evidence supporting the espionage allegations or the legal process he may face.
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