US labels detained Myanmar scholar Min Zin as wrongfully held by China

The State Department has officially labeled Myanmar scholar and U.S. citizen Min Zin as wrongfully detained after his arrest by Chinese authorities on June 3, accusing him of endangering Chinese national security. The designation, confirmed by a senior official on August 20, elevates his release to a priority for the United States, especially as President Donald Trump prepares to host President Xi Jinping. Rights advocates note that another American, seismologist Youlin Chen, has also been declared wrongfully detained.

The U.S. official called on China to release all Americans subject to detention or exit bans, condemning what they describe as “hostage diplomacy.” Min Zin, who previously lived in Thailand and held a valid Chinese visa for academic travel, was seized at an airport in Yunnan after being invited to a conference in Kunming. China maintains the case follows its laws, while the U.S. stresses the safety of its citizens abroad as a core priority.