The U.S. State Department has officially declared that an American citizen, scholar Umin Zin, arrested in China in June, is being wrongfully detained and is demanding his immediate release. The designation, announced Thursday, signifies that the U.S. government views the charges leveled against Zin as questionable and potentially politically motivated.
Zin, a recognized expert on Myanmar's politics, traveled to Yunnan, China, at the invitation of the Chinese government. He was arrested on June 6, with Chinese officials alleging he was "lawfully subjected to criminal compulsory measures by the relevant authorities on suspicion of engaging in espionage activities that endanger China's national security." The State Department stated that the determination of wrongful detention followed an extensive review.
Zin has a history with the democracy movement in Burma, Myanmar's former name, having fled the country in 1989 to avoid arrest. He is currently the executive director of the think tank The Institute for Strategy and Policy (Myanmar) and has contributed to various publications on Myanmar's political landscape. Weeks after his arrest, Zin was scheduled to participate in an event in Nepal.
In addition to Zin, the State Department reported that another U.S. citizen, Youlin Chen, a seismologist residing in Boston, has been wrongfully detained by China since November 2024. Chen was reportedly visiting family when he was detained, and Chinese authorities accused him of espionage related to his research work for the U.S. government. The State Department has refuted these allegations.
"The safety and security of U.S. citizens is the State Department's top priority. 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," a State Department spokesperson stated.
