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China has confirmed it is holding Min Zin, an American citizen and founder of the Institute for Strategy and Policy Myanmar (ISP-M), on suspicion of spying.
The announcement was made Friday by Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian, who said that Min Zin “has been subjected to criminal compulsory measures on suspicion of engaging in espionage activities that endanger China’s national security.”
ISP-M is a policy think tank that studies the political, resource, and conflict dynamics in Myanmar, which has been engulfed in civil war following the 2021 military coup. It remains unclear whether Min Zin was conducting research at the time of his detention.
According to a person with professional ties to ISP-M who spoke on condition of anonymity, Min Zin was arrested on June 3 at Kunming airport in Yunnan province, near the Myanmar border. Another source close to the academic, also speaking anonymously, said, “He went there to attend a meeting,” suggesting the visit may have been part of his research.
Min Zin’s work at ISP-M has focused on analysing Myanmar’s ongoing conflicts, political instability, and resource management challenges. The detention underscores growing concerns about foreign academics operating in regions where national security is closely monitored, which could carry severe consequences.
The situation is developing, and observers are closely watching how Beijing and Washington handle the sensitive diplomatic implications of the detention.
