(Central News Agency, Washington, 20th, Comprehensive Foreign News Report) American Burmese researcher Min Zin was detained by Chinese authorities in June. The U.S. State Department said today that it has determined that Min Zin was improperly detained, which makes ensuring his release a top priority for the United States.
Reuters reported that the State Department's move comes weeks before U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to host Chinese President Xi Jinping at the White House. Human rights groups called on the United States to urge China to release Min Xin before Xi Jinping's expected visit on September 24.
The State Department said in a statement today that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio determined that "Min Xin was improperly detained in China, the result of a comprehensive review of the circumstances."
The State Department also called on China to release other American citizens it detained. In addition to Min Xin, Youlin Chen (transliteration), a Chinese-American seismologist from Boston, was also detained by China. The United States believes that China’s accusations against him are groundless and has previously declared that he was improperly detained.
Chen Youlin’s wife, Yufang Rong (transliteration), issued a separate statement stating that this designation shows that the Trump administration prioritizes the freedom of these detainees.
Human rights groups say the number of Americans improperly detained by China ranges from a dozen to hundreds, including being barred from leaving the country by force. China claims that all cases were handled in accordance with the law and there were no improper detentions.
According to an official, Minsin had lived in Thailand before his arrest and had also lived in the United States and Myanmar. He holds a valid Chinese visa and has attended academic conferences in China before.
The State Council statement mentioned that Min Xin was invited by the Chinese government to attend an academic conference in Kunming and traveled to Yunnan on June 3. But a senior State Department official pointed out that Min Xin was detained at the airport and "repeatedly interrogated, isolated and detained" for nearly 11 weeks.
The senior official told Reuters today: "One minute, colleagues and family were talking to him on the phone, discussing arrival time and plans in China, and the next minute they lost contact. For 48 hours, his relatives did not know where he had gone, whether he was alive or dead, and who had taken him away."
Yunnan authorities eventually informed the U.S. Embassy that Min Xin was under criminal investigation for "endangering (China's) national security."
Human rights activists argue that China has long practiced "hostage diplomacy" and detained foreigners, including Americans, in exchange for leverage in bilateral relations.
Supporters of Min Xin, including some former Trump administration officials, have petitioned Trump to raise the case with China.
A senior State Department official noted: "Min Xin's case has caused serious concern among other scholars, who worry that they may be trapped and detained by China."
China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed in June that it had criminally detained Min Xin, saying it was suspected of engaging in espionage and endangering China's national security.
Min Xin was a former student activist who participated in Myanmar's 1988 pro-democracy movement. He also studied political science at the University of California, Berkeley.
