China detains U.S. scholar Min Zin on espionage suspicion
What's new: The Myanmar analyst was held after arriving in Kunming on June 3, and the U.S. says it is seeking consular access.
China detained U.S. citizen and Myanmar scholar Min Zin after he arrived at Kunming airport in Yunnan province on June 3, accusing him of espionage that endangers national security. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Min Zin was placed under criminal compulsory measures and that Chinese authorities notified the U.S. consulate in Guangzhou. The State Department said it was aware of reports that an American had been detained and was working to provide consular assistance. Min Zin is executive director of the Institute for Strategy and Policy-Myanmar and a Ph.D. candidate at the University of California, Berkeley. His detention comes weeks after a Trump-Xi summit and ahead of a state visit to China by Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing.