China detains US citizen suspected of espionage

Chinese authorities announced on Friday the detention of a US citizen suspected of espionage. The individual is the founder of a Myanmar policy research institute.

China detains US citizen suspected of espionage

Chinese authorities announced on Friday that they have detained an American citizen suspected of engaging in espionage activities. The individual is also the founder of the "Institute for Strategy and Policy Myanmar" (ISP-M), a political analysis organization focused on Myanmar.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated at a press conference that the person was subject to "criminal procedural coercive measures... suspected of espionage activity that poses a threat to China's national security."

The detained individual is Min Zin, who founded the research institute that studies Myanmar's politics, resources, and conflict dynamics. Myanmar has been engulfed in civil war since the 2021 military coup.

According to a person with professional ties to ISP-M who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the case, Min Zin was detained on June 3 at Kunming airport in Yunnan province. Yunnan borders Myanmar. The source said Min Zin had traveled there to attend a meeting. Another person with close ties to the scholar also confirmed this account.

It remains unclear whether Min Zin was conducting research at the time of his detention.

Source: LRT.lt

Source: LRT