Source: Fox News
Summary
The Trump administration has labeled U.S. scholar Min Zin as “wrongfully detained” after his June 3 arrest in Yunnan, China, where he was attending an academic conference. The State Department said Zin was detained at the airport and has been held in isolation for nearly 11 weeks. He is one of two U.S. citizens the department considers wrongfully detained in China. The other is Dr. Youlin Chen. The designation could increase pressure on China to release Zin ahead of President Xi Jinping’s visit to the U.S.
Our Reading
As expected, the matter has reached another stage.
Min Zin arrives in China for a conference.
He is detained at the airport and held in isolation.
His family loses contact for 48 hours.
China calls it a security investigation, the U.S. calls it wrongful detention.
Author: Evan Null
Min Zin’s Case
Min Zin, a U.S. scholar, was detained in China after traveling there for an academic conference. The Trump administration has now labeled his detention as “wrongfully held.” Zin was arrested on June 3 and has been in custody for nearly 11 weeks. His case is one of two U.S. citizens the State Department considers wrongfully detained in China. The other is Dr. Youlin Chen.
State Department Response
The State Department said it will continue to advocate for Zin’s release and for all U.S. citizens who are arbitrarily detained or prevented from leaving China. Assistant Secretary Dylan Johnson stated that the safety and security of U.S. citizens is the department’s top priority. The designation could bring more government attention and resources to Zin’s case.
Detention Details
Zin was detained at the airport after arriving in China and has been repeatedly interrogated. He has been held in isolation during his nearly 11 weeks in custody. His family and colleagues lost contact with him for 48 hours after his arrival. Authorities in Yunnan later told the U.S. Embassy that Zin was under criminal investigation for allegedly endangering China’s national security.
China’s Position
China’s Foreign Ministry confirmed Zin’s arrest in June and said he was suspected of spying and endangering national security. Beijing has denied that wrongful detention occurs in China and says such cases are handled according to Chinese law. The U.S. designation could put his detention in the spotlight ahead of Xi Jinping’s visit to the White House.
Context of the Visit
Zi’s detention comes just weeks before President Donald Trump is set to host Chinese President Xi Jinping. The timing has raised questions about how the case might influence diplomatic relations. Zin, who writes about Burma and Chinese foreign policy, leads the Institute for Strategy and Policy, a think tank focused on Burma. He took part in that country’s 1988 pro-democracy uprising before seeking asylum in the U.S.
