China said Friday it was holding a US citizen accused of espionage, identifying the man as a political analyst at a policy think tank focusing on neighbouring Myanmar.
Min Zin, founder of the Institute for Strategy and Policy Myanmar (ISP-M), “has been subjected to criminal compulsory measures,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian told a news briefing.
Authorities are holding him “on suspicion of engaging in espionage activities that endanger China’s national security,” he said, without providing further details.
The ISP-M researches the political, resource and conflict dynamics of Myanmar, which was plunged into civil war by a 2021 military coup.
It is not clear whether Min Zin was conducting research at the time he was apprehended by Chinese authorities.
A person with professional ties to ISP-M, speaking anonymously because of the case’s sensitivity, told AFP Min Zin was arrested on June 3 at Kunming airport in China’s Yunnan province, which borders Myanmar.
“He went there to attend a meeting,” said another person with a close relationship to the detained academic, also speaking on condition of anonymity.
Some ISP-M publications detail China’s influence in the borderlands of Myanmar, where Beijing is accused of supporting both rebel factions and the military in pursuit of its interests.
The think tank is based in the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai, a hub for political exiles from Myanmar since the 2021 coup ousted the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.
The junta ruled Myanmar directly for five years before staging tightly controlled polls that excluded Suu Kyi’s party and delivered a walkover win for pro-military parties this year.
Lawmakers then voted for coup commander Min Aung Hlaing to take over as president, a transition that democracy watchdogs and analysts—including some at the ISP-M—have derided as civilian rebranding of military rule.
China, however, was an enthusiastic backer of the election and on Friday announced Min Aung Hlaing will arrive on a state visit next week and meet with his counterpart Xi Jinping.
The visit, which begins Monday, will be Min Aung Hlaing’s first to China since taking over the role of civilian president.
Chinese authorities said the US consulate in Guangzhou had been notified of Min Zin’s case.
“His family and colleagues are following up with the consulate office there,” the source close to Min Zin told AFP. “I know his family is worried.”
Neither the US State Department nor the ISP-M have responded to a request for comment.
A decade of reporting at a cost
In 2025, we marked the 10th anniversary of Myanmar Now. In Myanmar’s history, journalists are often the first targets during political repression. We founded this outlet during a brief window of stability, starting with a small team in a modest office in downtown Yangon. Our goal was simple: to report on injustices that had been silenced for decades. In many countries, justice is sought through courts and police. In Myanmar, these institutions have historically been instruments of oppression.
From the start, we committed to reporting without discrimination—regardless of ethnicity, religion, or citizenship. We believe our work should be accurate, deeply sourced, and strong enough to serve as a historical record.
We also believe journalism should be a force for positive change, and that our primary readers should be the people of Myanmar.
That belief came at a cost. Members of our team and others associated with Myanmar Now have endured long legal battles, physical assaults, arrests, and torture. Despite these hardships, Myanmar Now continues to report the news—thanks to the resilience of our team, the courage of our sources, and the trust of our readers.
Please subscribe to support a free press in Myanmar.
