China has confirmed the arrest of U.S. Citizen U Min Zin on suspicion of engaging in espionage and endangering the country’s national security. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian stated on Friday that Min Zin, a political analyst, has faced “criminal compulsory measures.” According to the BBC, the arrest is noted as being unusual, as it is uncommon for China to arrest U.S. Citizens on national security charges. Min Zin is identified as a founder and Executive Director of the Institute for Strategy and Policy Myanmar (ISP-M), a think tank based in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The organization researches political, resource, and conflict dynamics in Myanmar, specifically focusing on China’s influence and interests in the region. Reports indicate Min Zin is also a PhD student at the University of California, Berkeley. He was a student activist during Myanmar’s 1988 pro-democracy movement and previously lived in the United States and Myanmar. Sources quoted by the AFP news agency reported that Min Zin was arrested on June 3 at Kunming airport in Yunnan province while attending a meeting. It is currently unclear if he was conducting research at the time of his detention. According to sources with professional ties to the ISP-M, his family and colleagues are following up with the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou. The U.S. State Department told the New York Times on Thursday that it is aware of reports regarding a U.S. Citizen detained in China and works to provide consular assistance. The Chinese Embassy in Washington told the New York Times that foreigners in China must observe Chinese laws and those who commit crimes will be held legally accountable. The arrest occurred weeks after President Donald Trump attended a summit in Beijing with President Xi Jinping.