Min Zin, who founded the Institute for Strategy and Policy Myanmar (ISP-M), "has been subjected to criminal compulsory measures... on suspicion of engaging in espionage activities that endanger China's national security", Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian told a news briefing.

The ISP-M researches the political, resource and conflict dynamics of Myanmar, which was plunged into civil war by a 2021 coup.

It is not clear whether Min Zin was conducting research at the time of his arrest.

A person with professional ties to ISP-M, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the case, told AFP that Min Zin was arrested on June 3 at Kunming airport in Yunnan province, bordering Myanmar.

"He went there to attend a meeting," said another person with a close relationship to the detained academic, who also spoke on condition of anonymity.