US Declares Min Zin Wrongfully Detained
The US State Department announced Thursday that it has formally designated American citizen Min Zin as wrongfully detained in China. According to a senior State Department official, the decision was made by Secretary of State Marco Rubio after a detailed review of the case, shifting it from a consular matter to one handled by the presidential office dealing with hostage affairs.
The designation comes weeks before Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to visit the White House, with one report citing an anticipated September 24 visit. The case adds another irritant to an already fraught bilateral relationship, as reported by both the Jerusalem Post and the South China Morning Post.
The Case of Min Zin
Min Zin, an American political analyst of Chinese descent, was detained on June 3 in Yunnan, China. According to the State Department, he had traveled to Yunnan to attend an academic conference at the invitation of the Chinese government. A senior State Department official described the charges as indefinite, stating that Min Zin had been subjected to repeated interrogations, isolation, and detention conditions for nearly 11 weeks.
Min Zin's background adds a complex dimension. He is a Myanmar scholar, a former student activist in Myanmar's democracy movement, and studied at UC Berkeley. He helped establish the Institute for Strategy and Policy, which moved overseas after the 2021 coup in Myanmar. China backed Myanmar's administration after the widely criticized vote.
The statement attributed to Assistant State Secretary Dylan Johnson read: "Secretary Rubio has determined that US citizen Min Zin is wrongfully detained in China. This follows an extensive review of the circumstances surrounding his June 3 detention in Yunnan, China, where Mr. Zin had travelled to attend an academic conference at the invitation of the Chinese government."
Heated Diplomatic Context
The designation occurs just weeks before Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to visit the White House, a summit that US President Donald Trump and Xi are expected to participate in. Both the Jerusalem Post and the South China Morning Post note the timing, with rights groups urging the US to press China for release before the anticipated September 24 visit.
Rights advocates, including former Trump administration officials, have petitioned the president to raise the case. The senior State Department official called on China to release other Americans held, including Youlin Chen, a seismologist declared wrongfully detained in November 2024.
Official Responses and Reactions
The State Department emphasized that "the safety and security of US citizens is the top priority," and will advocate for Min Zin and call for the release of all US citizens arbitrarily detained or exit banned in China. China has stated it handles cases in accordance with law and denies wrongful detention, with its foreign ministry confirming the arrest on suspicion of spying.
Rights groups estimate that the number of Americans unjustly detained ranges from among dozens to hundreds, considering coercion, and exit bans, and have accused China of conducting "hostage diplomacy." Claims of entrapment have also been raised by scholars and rights advocates.
The designation is the second involving China, following the case of Youlin Chen, a Boston seismologist arrested at Beijing International Airport in 2024.
Perspectives
US Government
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and the administration, designated Min Zin as wrongfully detained, emphasizing the government's commitment to securing the release of Americans and calling for China to treat US citizens with respect.
China's Government
China's foreign ministry has confirmed the arrest and said it handles cases in accordance with the law, denying accusations of wrongful detention, while maintaining that the case involves national security.