China denies US citizen held since June is wrongfully detained
China refuted on Friday a claim from Washington that it has improperly held a US citizen since early June, saying the American was suspected of violating Chinese law. “China is a country governed by the rule of law, and there is no such thing as so-called wrongful detention,” said foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian in […]
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian dismissed on Friday Washington's claim that a US citizen named Min Zin has been wrongfully detained by Chinese authorities since early June. Speaking at a press conference on March 18, 2026, Lin Jian stated, "China is a country governed by the rule of law, and there is no such thing as so-called wrongful detention."
The spokesman explained that Min Zin is suspected of activities that endanger China's national security, which violates Chinese law. He added, "The Chinese judicial authorities are handling the case in accordance with the law."
Min Zin, a founder of the Institute for Strategy and Policy Myanmar (ISP-M), was arrested on June 3 in the southwestern Chinese province of Yunnan, near the border with Myanmar. The US government has designated Min Zin as "wrongfully detained." ISP-M's research often highlights China's influence in Myanmar's border regions, where Beijing is accused of supporting armed groups aligned with its interests.
The State Department's designation of Min Zin as wrongfully detained increases diplomatic tensions, as Chinese President Xi Jinping prepares to meet with US President Donald Trump in Washington. Min Zin is now the second US citizen categorized as wrongfully detained in China by Washington, following seismologist Youlin Chen, who has been held on espionage charges since 2024.
Written by urgent.news from Hong Kong Free Press - China's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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