An American academic is being held in China on suspicion of spying. File Photo by Jerome Favre/EPA
Aug. 20 (UPI) -- Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that U.S. citizen Min Zin is being wrongfully detained in China after he visited the country and was arrested.
Zin travelled to Yunnan, China, for an academic conference after being invited by the Chinese government, Assistant Secretary of State Dylan Johnson said in a statement. He was detained on June 3, the release said.
"The safety and security of U.S. citizens is the State Department's top priority," the release said. "We will continue to advocate for Mr. Zin and call for the release of all U.S. citizens who are arbitrarily detained or exit-banned in China."
The Chinese foreign ministry said Zin is being held on suspicion "of engaging in espionage and endangering China's national security."
