[International] Ahead of Xi Jinping's Visit, US Determines American Researcher Min Zin Illegally Detained by China

Min Zin, a Burmese researcher of American nationality, was arrested by Chinese authorities in June. The U.S. Department of State announced on the 20th that it has determined Min Zin was being illegally detained, making his release a top priority for the U.S. According to Reuters, the State Department's action came just weeks before U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to host Chinese President Xi Jinping at the White House. Human rights groups have urged the U.S. to press China to release Min Zin before Xi's expected visit on September 24th. The State Department stated in a release on the 20th that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio determined that "Min Zin is being illegally detained in China, a conclusion reached after a full review of the relevant circumstances." The State Department also called on China to release other American citizens it is detaining. In addition to Min Zin, Chinese-American seismologist Youlin Chen from Boston is also being held by China. The U.S. considers the charges against him baseless and had previously declared him to be illegally detained. Chen's wife, Yufang Rong, issued a separate statement, noting that this determination shows the Trump administration is prioritizing the freedom of these detained individuals. Human rights groups state that the number of Americans being illegally detained by China ranges from over a dozen to hundreds, including those prohibited from leaving the country by coercive means. China, however, maintains that all cases are handled according to law and that there is no illegal detention. According to an official, Min Zin had been living in Thailand before his arrest and had also lived in the U.S. and Myanmar. He held a valid Chinese visa and had previously attended academic conferences in China. The State Department's statement mentioned that Min Zin was invited by the Chinese government to attend an academic conference in Kunming and traveled to Yunnan on June 3rd. However, a senior State Department official pointed out that Min Zin was detained upon arrival at the airport and has been "repeatedly interrogated, isolated, and confined" for nearly 11 weeks. The official told Reuters on the 20th: "One minute, colleagues and family were talking to him on the phone, discussing arrival times and plans in China; the next minute, he was unreachable. For a full 48 hours, his relatives had no idea where he had gone, whether he was alive or dead, or who had taken him." Yunnan authorities eventually notified the U.S. Embassy, stating that Min Zin was under criminal investigation for "endangering (China's) national security." Human rights advocates argue that China has long practiced "hostage diplomacy," detaining foreigners, including Americans, to gain leverage in bilateral relations. Supporters of Min Zin, including some former Trump administration officials, have petitioned President Trump to raise the case with Chinese authorities. A senior State Department official noted: "Min Zin's case has caused serious concern among other scholars, who worry about being lured and detained by China." In June, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed Min Zin's criminal detention, stating he was suspected of espionage and endangering China's national security. Min Zin was formerly a student activist, participating in Myanmar's 1988 democracy movement, and studied political science at the University of California, Berkeley. He also co-founded the Institute for Strategy and Policy (ISP-M), a think tank initially based in Myanmar, which relocated overseas after the military coup in 2021 overthrew the elected government led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. China has openly supported the new government in Myanmar. (Editor: Liu Xianghua)