University of California, Berkeley, PhD Candidate and ISP-Myanmar think tank founder Min Zin was recently arrested in China on charges that appear to be politically motivated. This arrest of a US citizen contradicts China’s reputation as a country that welcomes constructive international engagement.
https://www.npr.org/2026/06/12/nx-s1-5856394/china-arrest-us-citizen-myanmar
June 21, 2026
President Xi Jinping
President of the People’s Republic of China
The State Council General Office
2 Fuyoujie
Xichengqu
Beijingshi 100017
People’s Republic of China
Dear President Xi,
The Committee of Concerned Scientists is an independent organization of scientists, physicians, engineers, and scholars dedicated to protecting and advancing human rights and scientific freedom for colleagues around the world.
We are writing concerning Mr. Min Zin, a U.S.-based scholar, Ph.D. candidate at the University of California, Berkeley, and founding member and Executive Director of the Institute for Strategy and Policy–Myanmar (ISP-Myanmar), an independent, non-government-affiliated think tank.
According to public reports, on June 3, 2026, Mr. Min Zin traveled to Kunming at the invitation of a Chinese academic institution and was subsequently detained upon arrival at Kunming Changshui International Airport in Yunnan Province. The reported basis for his detention is an allegation of “espionage” and activities that allegedly endangered China’s national security.
The Committee is deeply concerned by this development. We note that Mr. Min Zin is a respected scholar whose work focuses on Myanmar’s political developments, governance, conflict dynamics, and Myanmar–China relations. Nothing in his long and distinguished academic and policy record suggests conduct that would justify treatment ordinarily associated with espionage or threats to national security.
We are further concerned by reports suggesting that the detention may have been influenced by requests from the authorities in Myanmar. The timing of this case—occurring shortly before high-level diplomatic engagements involving both China and Myanmar—raises additional questions that warrant careful consideration.
We respectfully urge your government to review Mr. Min Zin’s case in light of the principles of academic freedom, scholarly exchange, and international cooperation. His continued detention deprives the academic community of an important researcher and analyst whose work has contributed significantly to understanding complex regional issues. The detention of a prominent scholar under these circumstances risks undermining confidence in China as a country that welcomes rigorous academic inquiry and constructive international engagement.
We therefore respectfully request that the relevant authorities reconsider this matter and take the necessary steps to allow Mr. Min Zin to return to his academic studies and professional research.
Thank you for your attention to this serious concern. We will continue to follow developments in this case closely and hope for a prompt and just resolution.
Sincerely,
Joel L. Lebowitz, Walter Reich, Eugene M. Chudnovsky, Alexander Greer
Co-Chairs, Committee of Concerned Scientists
CC:
Marco Rubio
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Washington, DC 20520
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Ambassador David Perdue
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Honorable Xie Feng
Ambassador of China to the United States
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