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Chinese officials have stated that a citizen of the United States has been apprehended in China on allegations of espionage.
According to spokesperson Lin Jian, speaking at a press conference on Friday, U Min Zin was “lawfully subjected to criminal compulsory measures by the relevant authorities on suspicion of engaging in espionage activities that endanger China’s national security Chinese foreign ministry.”
In this undated file photo, the skyline of Beijing is shown.Adobe Stock
Lin offered no further details regarding the accusations or the inquiry into Min Zin, who has a long-standing background as a scholar of Myanmar’s political landscape. The spokesperson mentioned that the U.S. consulate general in Guangzhou, a city in southern China, was informed by the Chinese government.
In a statement released on Friday, a representative from the State Department acknowledged awareness of the reports concerning the arrest.
“The Department of State prioritizes the safety and security of Americans above all else. Whenever a U.S. national is taken into custody, we endeavor to provide suitable consular support. However, due to federal privacy regulations, we are unable to provide additional comments at this juncture,” the official stated.
Based on a biography posted on his blog, Min Zin was involved in the pro-democracy movement in Burma, the former name for Myanmar, during the late 1980s and departed the country in 1989 to evade apprehension.
He holds the position of executive director at The Institute for Strategy and Policy (Myanmar), a think tank, and has authored numerous works on the political affairs of Myanmar.
In this March 5, 2008, file photo, freedom activist Min Zin (far right) attends the Dissidents and Freedom forum at the Czech Foreign Ministry in Prague.Michal Cizek/AFP via Getty Images, FILE
The think tank announced in May that Min Zin was slated to be a speaker at an event in Nepal this month, organized by the Centre for Social Innovation and Foreign Policy.
-ABC News’ Shannon Kingston contributed to this report.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com