The Trump administration has designated U.S. citizen Min Zin as wrongfully detained in China, a move that escalates his case just weeks before President Donald Trump is scheduled to host Chinese President Xi Jinping at the White House.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio made the determination after the State Department reviewed the circumstances of Zin's detention on June 3 in Yunnan province. Zin had traveled to China for an academic conference at the invitation of the Chinese government, according to the State Department.
"The safety and security of U.S. citizens is the State Department’s top priority," Assistant Secretary Dylan Johnson said in a statement. "We will continue to advocate for Mr. Zin and call for the release of all U.S. citizens who are arbitrarily detained or exit banned in China."
Zin was detained at the airport upon his arrival in China. For nearly 11 weeks, he has been repeatedly interrogated and held in isolation, a senior State Department official told Reuters. Communication with his family and colleagues was lost shortly after his arrival, and for 48 hours, they did not know his whereabouts.
Yunnan authorities later informed the U.S. Embassy that Zin was under criminal investigation for allegedly endangering China’s national security. China’s Foreign Ministry confirmed Zin’s arrest in June, stating he was suspected of spying and endangering national security.
Beijing has denied that wrongful detentions occur within China, asserting that all cases are handled according to Chinese law.
This designation brings increased government attention and resources to efforts to secure Zin's release. It also places his detention in the spotlight ahead of Xi Jinping's anticipated visit to the White House on September 24.
Min Zin, who writes about Burma and Chinese foreign policy, leads the Institute for Strategy and Policy, a think tank focused on Burma. He participated in Burma's 1988 pro-democracy uprising before seeking asylum in the United States.
Zin is now one of two U.S. citizens whom the State Department considers wrongfully detained in China. The other is Dr. Youlin Chen, a Chinese-born American seismologist from Boston.
The State Department stated it will continue to press for Zin's release and for the release of other Americans it claims are being arbitrarily detained or prevented from leaving China.