Following the arrest of a second Chinese national at the University of Michigan (UM) for allegedly smuggling biological materials, former Republican Michigan lawmaker and current GOP Senate candidate Mike Rogers is urging federal action.
On Monday, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the apprehension of a UM scholar from the People’s Republic of China (PRC), claiming he sent biological materials to a lab and misled federal officials. This comes shortly after another Chinese citizen at UM was charged with smuggling a fungus deemed a potential biological weapon in the U.S.
“They are intentionally smuggling pathogens that could be devastating to American crops, American health, and the American economy,” Rogers stated in an interview. “I think this is part of a coordinated effort by the Chinese intelligence agency.”
On Twitter, report from the FBI confirmed the arrest of Chengxuan Han, a doctoral student from Wuhan, China, who is now the third individual linked to these accusations.
In April, Rogers announced his Senate campaign and expressed support for the federal investigation into UM, encouraging Congress to take decisive action. He also backed President Donald Trump’s recent move to suspend foreign student admissions at Harvard University.
“The university may argue this is about academic freedom, but academic freedom shouldn’t include espionage from nations aiming to harm us,” Rogers commented, emphasizing that while attracting the brightest minds is essential, caution is needed regarding certain countries.
Arthur Pia, interim vice president of UM’s research and innovation, stated that the university is addressing the recent arrest and will cooperate with investigators, reassess relevant policies, and ensure that compliance with all laws is enforced.
The recent arrests highlight ongoing concerns about potential Chinese espionage linked to UM. In 2024, five UM students from China were charged after being recorded during military training sessions with Taiwan. Additionally, two Chinese nationals were arrested in 2020 for allegedly spying on a naval base in Key West, Florida.
“Look at the trend—stealing intellectual property, sending spies to steal information, and now smuggling pathogens,” Rogers said. “We can’t allow hostile entities to infiltrate our universities as they did with Soviet weapons engineers in the 1980s.”
Rogers pointed out that Michigan is particularly vulnerable to these threats, referring to the state as a “canary in the coal mine” for China’s influences that have already cost thousands of jobs due to intellectual theft.
He criticized Democrats for not taking these risks seriously, citing Gotion, a battery company with ties to the Chinese Communist Party, which had plans for an installation in Michigan supported by state and federal funding. Despite backlash, Gotion suspended its application for building permits early in 2025.
“They were looking to set up shop outside Big Rapids, which isn’t in Michigan’s or the country’s best interests, but Democrats seemed eager to fund these initiatives,” Rogers remarked.
