Chinese authorities have confirmed the detention of a prominent Myanmar analyst and US citizen, accusing him of espionage and activities that allegedly threaten China’s national security.

Speaking at a regular press briefing on Friday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said that Min Zin had been placed under criminal detention in accordance with Chinese law.

“Min Zin has been criminally detained by the relevant authorities on suspicion of engaging in espionage and endangering China’s national security,” Lin said.

He added that Chinese officials had informed the US Consulate General in Guangzhou about the arrest.

Detained After Arriving in China

According to people familiar with the matter, Min Zin was taken into custody shortly after arriving at Kunming Airport in China’s south-western Yunnan Province. Sources said the detention occurred around two weeks ago, although further details about the allegations remain unclear.

Neither the US State Department nor the Institute for Strategy and Policy (ISP-Myanmar) immediately commented on the case.

The arrest comes at a delicate moment in US-China relations, with both governments attempting to stabilise ties following last month’s meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Veteran Democracy Activist

Min Zin is widely known as a scholar and political analyst specialising in Myanmar’s politics and security affairs.

He was involved in Myanmar’s pro-democracy uprising in 1988 and later pursued academic studies in political science at the University of California, Berkeley.

He subsequently became the executive director of the Institute for Strategy and Policy (ISP-Myanmar), an independent think tank that closely monitors political and security developments in Myanmar.

Think Tank Forced Overseas After Coup

The organisation originally operated inside Myanmar but relocated abroad following the 2021 military coup, which overthrew the elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi.

Since the coup, Myanmar has been engulfed in a prolonged civil conflict involving the military government, pro-democracy resistance forces and longstanding ethnic armed groups.

ISP-Myanmar has become one of the most closely watched sources of analysis on the conflict, regularly publishing research on military developments, governance issues and the country’s deteriorating economic conditions.

China Closely Watching Myanmar

Recent work by the think tank has examined Myanmar’s political transition under military leader Min Aung Hlaing, who assumed the presidency following elections that were widely criticised by Western governments and opposition groups.

China has maintained ties with Myanmar’s military-backed administration and has publicly supported the country’s current government despite international criticism of the electoral process.

The detention of Min Zin is likely to draw international attention given his profile as a leading Myanmar analyst and the sensitive geopolitical backdrop involving China, Myanmar and the United States.

(with inputs from Reuters)