Beijing has confirmed the detention of a United States academic, accused of engaging in espionage activities. The scholar, whose research centers on the political dynamics of Myanmar, was taken into custody by Chinese authorities, as confirmed by China's Foreign Ministry on Monday.
Chinese officials stated that the individual is suspected of espionage, though further details were not immediately provided. The detention aligns with earlier reports from US sources, raising concerns over the safety of foreign researchers in China.
The case adds to rising tensions between the two nations, with the US State Department yet to comment on the matter. The academic's focus on Myanmar, a country of strategic interest to China, has drawn particular attention.