China detains US citizen and Burmese scholar Min Zin, prompting US travel warning

China confirmed on June 12 that it had detained Min Zin, a US‑born Burmese scholar who was in Kunming for a conference, accusing him of espionage and endangering national security. The Chinese Foreign Ministry later omitted the espionage allegation in its public statement.

In response, the US Embassy in Beijing issued a series of travel advisories between June 13 and June 15, warning Americans of the risk of arbitrary detention, lack of consular access, and heightened scrutiny of US citizens of Chinese descent. The embassy noted that China does not recognize dual nationality and that travel documents issued by China could hinder US diplomatic assistance.

US House Committee on Foreign Affairs chair John Moolenaar called for Min Zin’s immediate release, emphasizing that the case reflects a broader pattern of China restricting the movement of foreigners and using detentions as diplomatic leverage. The incident adds another flashpoint to already strained US‑China relations.