The wife of a detained US academic is appealing to President Donald Trump to negotiate her husband’s release during an upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the White House. Sylvia Zin, whose husband U Min Zin was arrested on espionage charges in China, hopes Trump will address the case next week.
Background on U Min Zin’s Detention
U Min Zin, a director of a Myanmar-focused think tank, was detained on June 3 after attending an academic conference in Kunming, China. His arrest has been linked to allegations of spying and threatening national security. Sylvia Zin expressed her hopes during a testimony to the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee.
The hearing, titled “Lives, Not Leverage: The Long Arm of China and North Korea’s Repression,” highlighted concerns over the detention of US citizens in China. Congresswoman Young Kim, chair of the subcommittee, cautioned Americans about the risks of traveling to China, suggesting that Beijing might use them as diplomatic leverage.
Efforts for Release
In her testimony, Sylvia Zin expressed confidence in President Trump’s ability to secure the release of her husband, drawing on his past successes in returning wrongfully detained Americans. She also mentioned Chen Youlin, a US seismologist imprisoned in China for two years, as another case for Trump to address.
“Knowing the president’s historic record on bringing wrongfully detained Americans home has reassured me,” she stated, emphasizing her faith in Trump’s intervention.
Diplomatic Context
President Xi’s upcoming visit to Washington follows a previous meeting between him and Trump in Beijing. The diplomatic exchange comes amid heightened tensions over detained US citizens, with families traveling to the US capital to advocate for their loved ones’ release.
During a past summit, Trump successfully advocated for the release of Jin Mingri, an underground church leader in China. This history fuels hope for similar outcomes in current cases.
Official Reactions and Challenges
A senior White House official, speaking anonymously, confirmed that resolving wrongful detentions remains a priority for President Trump. The US State Department has labeled the detentions of U Min Zin and Chen Youlin as wrongful, enabling the involvement of the Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs.
Sylvia Zin, residing in Thailand, shared the emotional toll of her husband’s imprisonment, recounting the anxiety of waiting for consular visits to confirm his well-being. She revealed that Min Zin faced extensive interrogations upon his detention.
