China Responds to Charges Against Nationals Smuggling Fungus into the U.S.

On Wednesday, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy stated that he was not aware of the legal case involving two Chinese nationals accused of smuggling a hazardous biological pathogen into the United States for research purposes. Liu Pengyu, representing the Chinese Communist Party Embassy, emphasized the importance of legality for citizens abroad.

He stated, “I don’t know the specific situation, but I would like to emphasize that the Chinese government has always required overseas Chinese citizens to abide by local laws and regulations and will also resolutely safeguard their legitimate rights and interests.” This remark followed the announcement of charges against University of Michigan research fellows Yunqing Jian and Zunyong Liu, who are involved in a romantic relationship.

Details of the Charges

Liu and Jian have been charged in the Eastern District of Michigan for allegedly smuggling Fusarium graminearum fungus into the country. This pathogen is viewed as a potential bioweapon and is notorious for causing significant damage to cereal crops.

The U.S. Justice Department has flagged this fungus as a possible agroterrorism weapon due to its ability to create noxious