Sylvia Zin, the wife of Min Zin, an American scholar and expert on Myanmar, has not been allowed to see or speak with her husband for over 100 days. Min Zin, a U.S. citizen, was arrested in Kunming, China, after arriving for an academic conference. He has been held without formal charges at a detention facility described by human rights groups as a "black site," a term used to describe secret detention locations where individuals are held without due process. The Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS) has not provided a trial date or detailed information about the reasons for his arrest. Sylvia Zin last heard from her husband on June 3, when he sent a text confirming he had arrived in Kunming. That night, she received calls from colleagues expressing concern about his absence. Sylvia Zin received a call from a Chinese number where a voice with a heavy accent informed her that authorities were conducting a "preliminary compulsory investigation." She was unable to get more details before the call ended. Min Zin is being held under a legal measure called "Residential Surveillance at a Designated Location" (RSDL), which human rights organizations describe as a form of secret detention. The United Nations has called RSDL a potential form of enforced disappearance and possibly torture. U.S. officials have confirmed that consular staff have been allowed to meet with Min Zin monthly at a nearby hotel, but these meetings are closely monitored. Sylvia Zin has written letters for a U.S. official to read aloud to her husband. The family has hired an attorney, but Min Zin has not been allowed to meet with the lawyer. She expressed frustration over the lack of clarity regarding the charges against her husband. The U.S. State Department has issued a warning to Americans traveling to mainland China due to the "arbitrary enforcement of local laws" and the risk of unjust arrest or detention. Under Chinese law, a wide range of information can be classified as a state secret, which can lead to harassment of academics, journalists, or businesspeople. Min Zin and Sylvia Zin fled Burma (now Myanmar) in their youth during the pro-democracy movement in the 1980s and later became U.S. citizens. Min Zin runs a think tank, ISP-Myanmar, which studies China's role in Myanmar. U.S. officials confirmed that his organization previously received U.S. government funding, which may have drawn Chinese attention. Sylvia Zin believes her husband was set up, as he was arrested shortly after arriving in China for an academic conference at a university with close ties to the Chinese state. Chinese authorities have not provided a detailed explanation for his arrest, and it remains unclear whether the MSS in Yunnan province acted independently or on orders from the central government. Some experts suggest that Min Zin's work on Myanmar and his past advocacy for human rights may have drawn Chinese attention. The timing of his arrest in June, shortly after President Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, has raised questions about whether China is testing the U.S. response. The Trump administration has labeled Min Zin as "wrongfully detained" and pledged support for his release. Officials from the National Security Council and State Department met with Min Zin’s family at the White House. Rep. Ro Khanna, Min Zin’s U.S. congressman, has raised concerns about the detention of American citizens and scholars in China. Another American academic, Dr. Youlin Chen, a seismologist, has been in Chinese custody since 2024. His wife, Yufang Rong, is in Washington advocating for his release. U.S. officials confirmed that President Trump plans to discuss both cases with President Xi Jinping during their summit. Sylvia Zin hopes that Trump will press Xi to release her husband.