Who Is U Min Zin? US Scholar Arrested By China On Suspicion Of Espionage

Last Updated:June 12, 2026, 17:06 IST

China detains US scholar U Min Zin in Kunming on espionage and national security charges, the ISP-Myanmar director is a prominent analyst of Myanmar politics and China’s role.

U Min Zin, a political analyst and a US scholar, has come into the spotlight after Chinese authorities confirmed his arrest on suspicion of espionage and endangering China’s national security.

A US citizen, Min Zin serves as the executive director of the Institute for Strategy and Policy (ISP)-Myanmar, a think tank based in Thailand that studies China’s role in Myanmar, including Chinese interests, relations, and regional influence. Chinese officials said he was placed under criminal detention after arriving in Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province.

The detention comes just weeks after US President Donald Trump visited Beijing where the US leader received a grand welcome.

U Min Zin’s Academic, Political Background

Min Zin first gained prominence as a student activist during Myanmar’s pro-democracy uprising in 1988, a nationwide movement that challenged military rule. Following the crackdown on the protests, he continued his academic and political work abroad and later studied political science at the University of California, Berkeley.

According to the Centre for Social Innovation and Foreign Policy, he is also currently a PhD student at the University of California Berkeley, BBC reported.

According to the New York Times, he currently lives in Thailand, but spends time in both the US and Myanmar.

Role At ISP-Myanmar

He went on to help establish ISP-Myanmar, which became one of the country’s leading policy research organizations. After Myanmar’s military seized power in a 2021 coup that ousted the elected government of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, the think tank relocated its operations overseas.

Under Min Zin’s leadership, ISP-Myanmar has published research and analysis on Myanmar’s ongoing political crisis, civil conflict and economic challenges. The organization has closely tracked developments following the military takeover, including the activities of pro-democracy groups, ethnic armed organizations and the ruling junta.

His detention is notable because arrests of US citizens on national security-related charges are relatively rare in China. The case has also attracted attention due to Min Zin’s long-standing role as a commentator on Myanmar’s political landscape and his association with one of the most closely followed research institutions covering the country.

About the Author

Manisha Roy

Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manish...Read More

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