China confirms detention of US citizen Min Zin accused of espionage

China confirmed Friday the detention of Min Zin, a US citizen and analyst affiliated with a Myanmar-focused think tank, on suspicion of espionage. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated that criminal coercive measures had been taken, but provided no further details. The US consulate in Canton has been notified. Min Zin is a founding member of the Institute for Strategy and Policy – Myanmar. The case echoes a similar incident involving a Japanese employee of Astellas Pharma who was arrested in 2023 and sentenced in 2025.