The Trump administration has labeled the detention of an American academic in China as ‘wrongfully held,’ intensifying the situation as President Donald Trump prepares to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. This decision, announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, comes after an assessment of the detention of U.S. citizen Min Zin on June 3 in Yunnan.
Min Zin had been invited to China by the Chinese government to attend an academic conference. His status as wrongfully detained places him alongside another U.S. citizen, Dr. Youlin Chen, a seismologist from Boston, who is similarly classified by the State Department.
Assistant Secretary Dylan Johnson emphasized that the safety of U.S. citizens is a priority. ‘We will continue to advocate for Mr. Zin and urge the release of all Americans who are arbitrarily detained or barred from leaving China,’ he stated.
Upon Zin’s arrival in China, he was detained at the airport, subjected to isolation, and interrogated repeatedly over the course of nearly 11 weeks, a senior State Department official reported. This sudden loss of communication with Zin left his family and colleagues uncertain of his whereabouts and well-being for two days.
Chinese officials later informed the U.S. Embassy that Zin was under investigation for allegedly compromising China’s national security. The Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed his arrest in June on suspicions of spying and security threats. However, they refute claims of wrongful detention, asserting adherence to Chinese legal standards.
The designation by the U.S. may help channel more government resources towards achieving Zin’s release. This situation gains more significance as President Xi is scheduled to visit the White House on September 24.
Min Zin is noted for his work on Burma and Chinese foreign policy, leading the Institute for Strategy and Policy. He participated in Burma’s 1988 pro-democracy movement before seeking asylum in the U.S.
The State Department confirmed its ongoing efforts to secure the release of Zin and others it considers unjustly held or restricted in China.