US Labels Myanmar Academic Min Zin Wrongfully Detained in China

Secretary of State Marco Rubio finalized the determination following a comprehensive review of the case. Assistant Secretary of State Dylan Johnson confirmed the status, placing Zin alongside Dr. Youlin Chen as the only two Americans currently recognized by the US government as being held unjustly within China. While Beijing claims the academic engaged in activities threatening national security, the lack of specific evidence has drawn sharp criticism from human rights advocates and academic circles.

ISP-Myanmar, the research organization Zin founded, publicly welcomed the US intervention. The group continues to press for his immediate release, arguing that the detention serves as a direct assault on intellectual freedom. By elevating the case to a formal wrongful detention, the State Department has significantly increased the diplomatic stakes, signaling that the US will prioritize Zin’s return as a key point of contention in ongoing bilateral talks.