How an Academic Became Collateral Damage to China’s Interests in Myanmar

On June 3, scholar U Min Zin vanished in Yunnan, China, where he was to attend an academic conference. On June 12, just before Myanmar's leader Min Aung Hlaing visited China, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian confirmed Zin's arrest and alleged he posed a threat to Chinese national security. No further information was given.

On August 20, the U.S. State Department labeled Zin as "wrongfully detained." Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs Dylan Johnson vowed the U.S. government would continue to fight for Zin's release and call for all U.S. citizens "arbitrarily detained or exit banned in China" to be freed. Zin, who heads the Institute for Strategy and Policy-Myanmar, a think tank in Thailand that opposes Myanmar's military government and the 2021 coup, was initially perceived as another instance of China using hostage diplomacy.

However, his arrest was more related to Myanmar. Beijing aimed to eliminate a potential destabilizing factor in its economic interests in Myanmar, crucial for its strategy in Southeast Asia. China supports Myanmar's military junta, has provided $3 billion in aid, sold weapons, and pressures ethnic armed organizations to secure ceasefires and protect infrastructure projects.

Detaining individuals deemed a threat to China's interests is common. China especially wants to safeguard the stability of the elected Burmese government, offering legal leverage should leadership change. Myanmar is vital for China's economic strategy in Southeast Asia, particularly through the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC) and the development of the deep-water port in Kyaukpyu.

However, these projects face opposition, endangering investments and China's access to critical minerals.