Who is Min Zin? US citizen ‘wrongfully detained’ in China on espionage charges; here's what we know
The US has designated Myanmar-born American scholar U Min Zin as wrongfully detained in China, making his release a priority. Min Zin was detained in June while attending an academic conference in Yunnan and faces Chinese espionage allegations.
US scholar U Min Zin has been wrongfully detained by Chinese authorities on espionage charges, with the US State Department prioritizing his release. Min Zin, a Myanmar native, attended an academic conference in Yunnan province, China, on invitation from a professor he knows since 2018. He had previously visited China without any issues, including a conference in 2025.
Chinese authorities accused him of spying and endangering national security after he arrived in Beijing, detaining him immediately. Min Zin, who is also a US citizen and expert on Myanmar, had previously been in hiding for seven years before migrating to the US. He earned his PhD from UC Berkeley and became a US citizen during his studies.
In 2016, he returned to Myanmar to set up an institute and later moved to Thailand with his family after the 2021 coup. The US State Department is advocating for Min Zin's release, stating that the safety and security of US citizens is their top priority.
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