Marco Rubio Designates U Min Zin Wrongfully Detained in China

Secretary of State Marco Rubio formally designated U.S. citizen U Min Zin as wrongfully detained in China on August 20, 2026. Min Zin, a political scientist, was arrested in June in China's Yunnan province after attending an academic conference at the invitation of the Chinese government.

While the Government of China alleges that Min Zin engaged in espionage that endangered national security, the United States Department of State maintains the detention is arbitrary. This designation treats Min Zin as a hostage of a foreign government and elevates his case to a priority for the Trump administration.

The move comes shortly before President Xi Jinping is expected to visit President Donald Trump in the United States. Min Zin is now one of two U.S. citizens designated as wrongfully detained in China, joining seismologist Youlin Chen.