US Scholar Went To China For A Workshop. Then He Stopped Responding
A US scholar and Myanmar expert, Min Zin, has been detained in China on espionage allegations after arriving for an academic workshop. His family and US officials deny the charges, noting he is being held in a secret location under China's residential surveillance system.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the increasing risks for foreign academics traveling to China and underscores ongoing geopolitical tensions regarding national security detentions.
A US citizen and Myanmar scholar was detained in China shortly after arriving in the country for a three-day academic workshop, according to his family and US officials.Min Zin, who was invited to attend a workshop on economic cooperation, has been held in China since June 3 on allegations of espionage, according to The Washington Post. His family and the US government have denied the allegations.Min Zin flew from Chiang Mai to Kunming on China Eastern Airlines Flight 9640 on June 3. After landing, he sent a message to his family saying, "Just landed in Kunming". He also messaged the Chinese professor who had invited him to the workshop.But soon after arriving at the airport, Min Zin stopped responding to messages and calls. He never checked into the hotel he had booked for the trip.
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