National security officials, along with some members of Congress, have raised alarms over allegations involving two Chinese researchers who were romantically linked and allegedly smuggled samples of harmful fungi into the United States.
Jiang, 33, a steadfast Communist Party supporter and researcher at the University of Michigan, has claimed she transported the pathogen unlawfully alongside her boyfriend, Zunyoung Liu, 34, who has received funding from the Chinese government for his research.
Liu was apprehended at Detroit Metropolitan Airport last July, with authorities noting the potential threat posed by the Fusarium graminearum pathogen.
“This poses an assault on the US food supply,” a high-ranking official from the Trump administration remarked.
Although fungi of this nature are already found in the US, any manipulation that could make them resistant to treatments or increase their spread could severely harm American agriculture, an expert told the media. There’s a pressing need for testing fungal samples for signs of modification, they added.
There have been similar claims regarding the virus linked to COVID-19, suggesting it may have been enhanced at the Wuhan Institute as part of US-funded research into naturally occurring SARS pathogens. China has denied that the virus leaked from a lab, despite US intelligence suggesting it’s a likely cause of the pandemic.
“The Chinese Communist Party employs a variety of tactics to undermine the US,” a source said. “Successful introduction of these pathogens could lead to substantial economic losses for American farmers.”
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) mentioned that it seems the FBI might have thwarted a “biological attack.”
“We owe gratitude to the Trump administration and federal law enforcement for intercepting this potential biological weapon before it could compromise our food supply,” Ernst added.
Charges announced in federal court describe how Jiang and Liu discussed ways to smuggle Fusarium graminearum into the US, labeling it a potential agro-terrorism threat that could devastate crops and harm livestock and human health.
Both Jiang and Liu face charges including conspiracy, smuggling, making false statements, and visa fraud.
“If this fungi infects crops like wheat and corn, the consequences could be devastating,” a national security expert specializing in agricultural microbiology commented.
“The critical issue is whether the strains involved are resistant to treatments or have been altered to be more harmful.”
Liu was arrested at Detroit’s airport last July with four plastic bags containing infected “fibrous material.” When questioned by customs, he initially denied ownership but eventually acknowledged the pathogen was intended for research at the University of Michigan’s Molecular Plant Microbe Interactions Institute.
Furthermore, he concealed the items during travel, knowing they would likely be seized by Border Patrol if discovered.
Among the materials seized was a round filter paper containing ten independent coded samples, suggesting plans for propagation. Liu admitted he intended to clone different strains and was prepared for failures in the experimental process.
Searches of Liu’s phone revealed a PDF titled “Plant Pathogen War under Climate Change,” specifically mentioning Fusarium graminearum as a cause of significant economic losses globally.
The FBI later interviewed Jiang, who claimed Liu wasn’t aware of any smuggling plans until after his arrest. Investigators found documents on Jiang’s phone linking her to Liu’s research and underscoring her allegiance to Communist principles.
Communications between the pair indicate this was not their first discussion about smuggling the fungi, with evidence suggesting that they had previously talked about hiding biological materials to avoid detection by US customs.
On August 12, 2022, Jiang arrived in the US from Seoul, but didn’t declare any biological materials upon entry.
A molecular biologist noted that while Fusarium graminearum indeed causes substantial losses to US agriculture, its presence in the US is not new. The concern arises when new strains that are more harmful are introduced.
Jiang secured a J1 visa for research and was previously a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Michigan, while Liu obtained a B2 tourist visa, prohibiting employment or research during his stay. Judicial proceedings are ongoing regarding their cases.
Meanwhile, ongoing tensions could make the situation more precarious, necessitating further scrutiny of genomic sequences related to the pathogens Jiang and Liu allegedly sought to smuggle.
