Key facts
- China's foreign ministry confirmed the arrest of U.S. citizen Min Zin.
- Min Zin is accused of espionage and endangering China's national security.
- Min Zin is the executive director of the Institute for Strategy and Policy Myanmar (ISP-M).
- The U.S. consulate general in Guangzhou has been notified.
China's foreign ministry confirmed on Friday the arrest of U.S. citizen Min Zin, a political analyst at a Myanmar-focused think tank, on suspicion of espionage and endangering national security. Spokesperson Lin Jian stated that Min Zin has been placed under criminal detention in accordance with the law. The U.S. consulate general in Guangzhou has been notified of the arrest. Min Zin was reportedly detained at Kunming airport approximately two weeks ago. He is the executive director of the Institute for Strategy and Policy (ISP) - Myanmar, a think tank that has published analyses on China's influence in the region. The case surfaces weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. Beijing also announced that Myanmar’s President Min Aung Hlaing would visit China next week.