When Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Thursday that Min Zin’s confinement in China had been deemed a wrongful detention, his brother, Aung Maw Zin, expressed deep gratitude and optimism that the designation could lead to his release. The announcement came after an extensive review by the State Department, according to Assistant Secretary of State Dylan Johnson.
Background on the detained scholar
Min Zin, a Myanmar‑born expert on his native country, traveled to Yunnan Province in early June at the invitation of a longtime colleague to present at a conference hosted by Kunming University. Although he had previously visited China without incident, including for a 2025 academic gathering, he was detained immediately upon arrival this time. Chinese authorities allege he is “suspected of spying and endangering Chinese national security,” a charge his family says is unfounded.
Born in Burma, Min Zin was a student activist in the pro‑democracy movement before spending seven years in hiding. He later immigrated to the United States, earned a Ph.D. program placement at UC Berkeley, married, and became a naturalized U.S. citizen. The couple now has a teenage daughter. After the 2021 military coup in Myanmar, he founded the Institute for Strategy and Policy‑Myanmar, a think tank that later relocated his family to Thailand.
Family’s response and hopes
“When I heard the news, I teared up a little bit,” Aung Maw told CNN, noting that the wrongful‑detention label sends a clear message to Beijing that the case is a priority for the United States. He added that the designation helps his sister‑in‑law understand that her husband is not a criminal.
The family has been unable to speak directly with Min Zin since his detention, though U.S. diplomatic personnel have been permitted to see him. According to his brother, Min Zin has been held in solitary confinement for more than two months.
Political context
The decision arrives ahead of an anticipated meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump in the United States next month, a gathering that could shape bilateral relations. Johnson emphasized that the safety and security of U.S. citizens remain the State Department’s top priority and pledged continued advocacy for Min Zin and all Americans arbitrarily detained in China.
Min Zin is now one of two Americans officially designated as wrongfully detained in China, the other being seismologist Youlin Chen, who has been held since November 2024.
Looking forward
Aung Maw urged his brother to continue his lifelong meditation practice and to stay strong, assuring him that the United States is doing everything possible to bring him home. The family remains confident in President Trump’s commitment to securing the release of Americans abroad.
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
