American Scholar Min Zin Arrested in Kunming! Brother Reveals Details of His Detention

Photo: Myanmar-American citizen Min Zin (right) with his brother Aung Maw Zin (left) and Aung Maw Zin's son at the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. (Photo taken in 2014, provided by Aung Maw Zin)

[People News] Aung Maw Zin, the brother of Myanmar-American scholar Min Zin, who was recently identified by the U.S. State Department as having been "illegally detained" in China, gave an exclusive interview to Voice of America on Monday (August 24), revealing for the first time the circumstances surrounding Min Zin's detention in China.

Aung Maw Zin informed Voice of America that the Chinese Communist authorities interrogate Min Zin for 4 to 6 hours each day, with one session lasting as long as 16 hours. U.S. officials who recently visited Min Zin described him as "very strong" and expressed gratitude on behalf of their family for the U.S. government's efforts to secure his release. They hope that Min Zin will be freed before Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping's visit to the U.S. on September 24.

According to a report by Voice of America, on June 3, 2026, Min Xin, a Myanmar-born American citizen, arrived in Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province, on a flight from Chiang Mai, Thailand. Upon landing, he sent a text message to his wife, Sylvia Zin, in Chiang Mai and to his colleagues at the Institute for Strategy and Policy-Myanmar, which he founded, stating, 'Arrived safely.' After that, he went silent, and his family and colleagues were unable to contact him.

Twenty-four hours after Min Xin's disappearance, his family reached out to the U.S. Embassy in China. The embassy, after contacting the Chinese Communist government, informed the family that Min Xin had been detained on suspicion of 'engaging in espionage and endangering national security.'

Min Xin is currently being held in solitary confinement, and U.S. officials have reported that he is 'very strong.'

On August 20, the U.S. State Department officially declared that Min Xin is 'illegally detained' in China, making him the second American scholar currently recognized as 'illegally detained' in the country. The other is Chinese-American seismologist Chen Youlin, who has been held by the Chinese Communist Party since early November 2024.

Min Xin's brother, Aung Maw Zin, expressed his 'deep gratitude to the U.S. government' during an exclusive interview with Voice of America (VOA) on Monday (August 24) regarding the recognition of Min Xin as 'illegally detained,' and he expressed hope that this acknowledgment would aid in securing Min Xin's early release.

In the past two months, American diplomats have visited Min Xin three times, with the latest visit occurring on August 12. Ang Mao Xin informed Voice of America that the diplomats told him Min Xin is not being held in a detention center but is instead in solitary confinement at a secret location that remains unknown to the public.

On August 12, Chinese police escorted Min Xin to a hotel in Kunming for a meeting with American officials. Although the meeting was scheduled to last half an hour, delays and time-wasting tactics by the Chinese side meant that the American officials only had about 15 minutes for meaningful discussions with Min Xin.

Ang Mao Xin stated, "Despite having some health issues, he appears to be in good physical and mental condition; he is very resilient. However, the restrictions are becoming more severe, and visits are facing significant obstacles. This is precisely what we are concerned about."

Ang Mao Xin also shared with reporters that Min Xin received a ten-year visa from the Chinese embassy prior to his invitation to a meeting in Kunming in 2018. In October 2025, Min Xin is expected to attend a high-profile academic conference in Shanghai, jointly organized by the China Foreign Affairs University and the Center for Strategic and International Studies Indonesia (CSIS Indonesia), and he returned safely from both previous trips. This marks at least the third time in eight years that Min Xin has traveled to China for an academic conference.

Furthermore, Ang Mao Xin disclosed that in June of this year, Min Xin was invited by a person named He Jingsong from the Myanmar Research Institute of the Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences (China Kunming South Asia Southeast Asia Research Institute) to participate in a conference at Kunming University in Yunnan.

Ang Maoxin stated that Minxin has known He Jinsong since 2018, which led him to have little concern about the trip to Yunnan. However, trouble unexpectedly arose as soon as they arrived in Kunming.

On June 12, 2026, during a routine press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Chinese government confirmed for the first time that Minxin had been detained, alleging that he was involved in activities that endangered China's national security.

During Minxin's detention, he faced prolonged hours of interrogation.

Ang Maoxin revealed that Chinese authorities interrogated Minxin for 4-6 hours each day, with one session lasting as long as 16 hours. Initially, Minxin managed to dedicate 3-4 hours daily to meditation, but later, the guards began to interfere with his practice, allowing him to meditate only once a day. They even arranged for two guards to continuously talk in the room while he was meditating.

Ang Maoxin remarked, "They tried to disrupt his meditation. This is indeed very disturbing."

On August 21, during a routine press conference in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian responded to a Reuters inquiry about the Minxin case, stating that U.S. personnel were suspected of engaging in activities that endangered China's national security, thus violating Chinese law, and that Chinese judicial authorities were handling the case in accordance with the law.

Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping is expected to visit the U.S. on September 24 to hold talks with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Ang Maoxin told reporters that they hope Minxin can be released before Xi Jinping's visit to the U.S.; additionally, September 9 marks Minxin's birthday. Ang Maoxin expressed, "We really hope my brother can gain his freedom before his birthday."

Min Xin is currently recognized as one of the two Americans who have been 'illegally detained' in China, which indicates that the U.S. government has made his release a priority.

On August 20, Assistant Secretary of State Dylan Johnson stated that 'the safety and security of U.S. citizens is the top priority of the U.S. State Department.' He emphasized that 'we will continue to advocate strongly for Mr. Min Xin and urge the release of all U.S. citizens who are arbitrarily detained or banned from leaving China.'

Additionally, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department responded to a request for comment from Voice of America (VOA) on August 20, stating that 'U.S. officials, including those from the State Department and the White House, have called at the highest levels for the immediate release of Min Xin.'

Photo provided: American scholar of Burmese descent Min Xin poses for a photo at Niagara Falls. (Photo taken on April 30, 2022, by Min Xin's brother Aung Maw Zin.)

From student leader in the Burmese democracy movement to a scholar's challenging journey

Aung Maw Zin shared with reporters that Min Xin was already an active participant in the Burmese democracy movement during his high school years. He has been involved in the movement since 1988 and was later pursued by the military government, which forced him to hide under an alias in Myanmar for seven years.

Aung Maw Zin recalled, 'During those difficult times, Min Xin dedicated himself to self-study, reading any books he could find to further his education.'

Ang Maoxin informed reporters that Minxin crossed into Thailand in 1997. He not only wrote political analysis articles for the media but also landed a job in the Burmese department of Radio Free Asia (RFA), progressing from part-time to full-time employment.

Minxin's media experience, combined with his enthusiasm for academic research and his inquisitive nature, led to his acceptance into the master's program at the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) in 2010. He made history as the first student at UC Berkeley to be admitted to a master's program without a high school diploma or a college degree.

Following his acceptance into the master's program, Minxin was later admitted to the doctoral program for further studies.

Ang Maoxin reminisced that 2012 was a pivotal year for Minxin after his immigration to the United States. He stated, "2012 was particularly meaningful for Minxin, as he became a U.S. citizen that year and gained American citizenship, and his daughter was also born in the same year."

Minxin's 14-year-old daughter, Suu, currently resides in Chiang Mai, Thailand, with Minxin's wife, Silvia.

Minxin primarily concentrates on the situation in Myanmar, rather than 'targeting China.'

In 2016, Minxin graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, earning a master's degree in political science and government. He returned to Myanmar that same year and established the 'Myanmar Strategic and Policy Research Institute,' where he has served as the executive director.

After the military coup in Myanmar in 2021, Minxin and his family were forced to relocate to Chiang Mai, Thailand, where they have been living ever since. The institute's headquarters also moved to Chiang Mai.

According to the official website of the research institute, this organization is a non-partisan, independent think tank that is not affiliated with the government. It is dedicated to promoting democratic leadership and public participation in public affairs, with goals that include advancing the democratic process in Myanmar and strengthening civil society.

Ang Maoxin stated that Minxin continues to write blogs, books, and engage in other research related to Myanmar, even while in Thailand.

Ang Maoxin told Voice of America that Minxin's research is entirely focused on Myanmar, not China. He remarked, "Minxin has always believed that he understands China is a very important neighbor to Myanmar, and that China must play a crucial role in peacefully resolving the crisis in Myanmar."

Ang Maoxin revealed that Minxin went to China because he believed that without understanding and engaging with China, the issues facing Myanmar could not be resolved.

Ang Maoxin emphasized that Minxin values the opportunity to interact with Chinese scholars.

Ang Maoxin informed reporters that upon learning of Minxin's detention on charges of 'espionage' and 'endangering China's national security,' the family was both shocked and perplexed.

Ang Maoxin stated, "Minxin went to China as a scholar to seek dialogue, not as an adversary of China."

Ang Maoxin further added, "Minxin's research findings are public and of an open-source nature. These findings primarily focus on the situation in Myanmar, rather than targeting China."
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