US scholar invited to China for academic workshop vanishes in Yunnan, later declared ‘wrongfully detained’; Trump may raise case with Xi

US citizen and Myanmar-born scholar Min Zin has been designated as “wrongfully detained” by the US State Department after he disappeared in China following a trip for an academic workshop.Zin travelled to Yunnan at the invitation of a professor to attend a workshop on economic cooperation. He arrived in Kunming on June 3 and sent his family a message saying, “Just landed in Kunming.” His family has had no direct contact with him since.Two days later, his wife Sylvia was informed by the US Consulate in Guangzhou that Zin had been detained in Yunnan, Wall Street Journal reported.US Secretary of State Marco Rubio determined that Zin was being wrongfully detained after a review of the circumstances surrounding his detention, the State Department said.The department said Zin had travelled to China to attend an academic conference at the invitation of the Chinese government. It also accused Chinese authorities of luring him to the country and said the allegations against him were unfounded.China has disputed the US characterisation. Liu Chang, a spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, said Zin was being investigated for a criminal offence and that his legal rights were being protected.Zin was born in Myanmar and later moved to the US, where he became a citizen. His academic work has focused on Myanmar's democracy and ethnic conflicts and has received US government funding, a spokeswoman for his family told WSJ.He was also involved in Myanmar's 1988 pro-democracy protests. Despite his background, Zin had previously travelled to China for academic events without reported problems, including a Chinese government-backed conference in October 2025.His family says he is being held under “residential surveillance” at an undisclosed location. Under the system, Chinese authorities can hold suspects at a location away from their homes for extended periods while investigating them.According to the family spokeswoman, Zin is being kept in a small room with no windows, a bed and a toilet, with the lights left on continuously. Guards are present and he is questioned for four to six hours a day.The family says Zin has not been allowed to contact relatives. He has met a US Consulate official three times for about 30 minutes each time, with Chinese officials present, and has not been permitted to discuss his case during those meetings.He appears to be in good health but has complained of knee pain, the spokeswoman said. When he is not being questioned, he reportedly spends several hours meditating.The State Department said Zin and another US citizen, Dr Youlin Chen, are currently being wrongfully detained in China.Zin's case is expected to feature among the issues raised by US President Donald Trump when he meets Chinese President Xi Jinping at the White House on September 24.Catch the latest World News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.