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US designates academic Min Zin as wrongfully detained in China
🇨🇳 China /Conflict & Security

US designates academic Min Zin as wrongfully detained in China

From South China Morning Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • The US State Department has formally designated American political analyst Min Zin as wrongfully detained in China.
  • This designation shifts his case to a presidential office focused on hostage affairs and adds strain to US-China relations.
  • The US is advocating for Min Zin's release and that of other arbitrarily detained US citizens in China.

The United States has officially declared that Min Zin, an American political analyst of Chinese descent, is being wrongfully detained in China. The State Department announced Thursday that a detailed investigation concluded he is being improperly held. This formal designation elevates the case from a consular matter to one handled by the presidential office responsible for hostage affairs.

Secretary Rubio has determined that US citizen Min Zin is wrongfully detained in China.

— State DepartmentThe State Department's formal announcement of the designation.

The decision introduces another point of friction between the US and China, occurring just weeks before an anticipated summit between Presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump in Washington. Secretary of State Marco Rubio made the determination after an extensive review of the circumstances surrounding Min Zin's detention on June 3 in Yunnan province. He had traveled to China to attend an academic conference at the invitation of the Chinese government.

This follows an extensive review of the circumstances surrounding his June 3 detention in Yunnan, China, where Mr Zin had travelled to attend an academic conference at the invitation of the Chinese government.

— State DepartmentExplaining the basis for the designation.

This marks the second time the US has designated a wrongful detention involving China. The first instance involved Youlin Chen, a seismologist arrested in November 2024 at Beijing International Airport. The State Department reiterated that the safety and security of US citizens abroad is its highest priority. The agency stated it will continue to advocate for Min Zin and all US citizens who are arbitrarily detained or banned from exiting China.

The safety and security of US citizens is the State Department’s top priority.

— State DepartmentReiterating the US government's commitment to its citizens abroad.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by South China Morning Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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