Ahead of Xi Visit, US Designates American Held in China as ‘Wrongfully Detained’

Two months after his arrest in China on espionage charges, U.S. citizen Min Zin has been designated "wrongfully detained" by the U.S. State Department. Assistant Secretary of State for global public affairs Dylan Johnson announced the move, citing an extensive review of circumstances surrounding Min Zin's arrest on June 3. Secretary of State Marco Rubio made the designation after reviewing the situation.

Johnson emphasized that the safety and security of U.S. citizens is the top priority for the State Department. The announcement follows a Reuters report citing a senior State Department official, confirming Min Zin's designation as the second American wrongfully detained in China after Youlin Chen, a Chinese-born American seismologist who was arrested in November 2024 and designated wrongfully detained by Rubio in March.

Min Zin, executive director of the Institute for Strategy and Policy-Myanmar (ISP-Myanmar), vanished during a conference in Kunming, Yunnan province, on June 3. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson confirmed his arrest a week later, stating he had been placed under criminal detention for suspicion of espionage and endangering China's national security.

The senior State Department official told Reuters that Min Zin was detained at the airport and subjected to frequent interrogations, isolation, and detention conditions for nearly 11 weeks. His family lost contact with him for 48 hours, unsure of his whereabouts or well-being. Min Zin, a political science graduate from UC Berkeley, established ISP-Myanmar in 2016 as an independent, non-partisan think tank focused on democracy, good governance, and human rights.

ISP-Myanmar moved to Chiang Mai, Thailand, following the 2021 military coup, which closed off spaces for independent media and civil society groups. The exact reason for Min Zin's arrest remains unclear, but his leadership's work on China's policy toward Myanmar has raised concerns. The State Department's designation of Min Zin as wrongfully detained puts securing his release at the top of U.S. priority.

As the U.S. prepares to host Chinese President Xi Jinping on September 24, calls for Min Zin's release are likely to intensify. Human rights groups, including Fortify Rights, have expressed serious concerns about the Chinese government's use of national security as a justification for restricting freedoms and silencing critical voices.