US scholar with Myanmar ties held in China

Min Zin

China has detained an American academic with deep roots in Myanmar, accusing him of espionage in a case that could complicate regional diplomacy.

Min Zin, 36, was arrested earlier this month in Yunnan province after travelling to Kunming for a conference. Beijing’s foreign ministry claims he engaged in activities that threatened national security. The US State Department has confirmed his detention and said consular officials have visited him.

Min Zin is no stranger to political struggle. As a student activist during Myanmar’s 1988 uprising, he fled military repression and later sought asylum in the United States. He went on to found ISP Myanmar, a think tank that has published extensively on Chinese foreign policy and Myanmar’s economic links with its powerful neighbour. The organisation has examined issues such as rare earth exports to China and maintained regular exchanges with Chinese research institutes.

Now a PhD candidate at the University of California, Berkeley, Min Zin has continued to focus on Myanmar’s place in the region, particularly its complex relationship with Beijing. His arrest has raised alarm among activists who note his longstanding engagement with both Myanmar and China.

Amnesty International has called for his immediate release, warning that the charge of espionage appears politically motivated. “The circumstances around Min Zin’s mysterious arrest are extremely concerning,” said Joe Freeman, a Myanmar researcher for the group.

The timing is notable. Just weeks ago, US President Donald Trump met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing in an effort to reset relations. Analysts say the detention of a scholar with Myanmar connections could unsettle those talks, especially given Myanmar’s strategic importance on China’s southwest border.

For now, Min Zin remains in custody in Yunnan, with his future uncertain. His case underscores the risks faced by academics working at the intersection of Myanmar’s politics and China’s global ambitions.

-2026-06-14