Don’t miss the full story from our staff writers, whose reportage is the basis of this article.
Two Chinese nationals have been charged with conspiracy to smuggle a dangerous fungus into the United States that could potentially be used as an agricultural bioweapon. Jian Yunqing, 33, and Liu Zunyong, 34, face federal charges including conspiracy, making false statements, and visa fraud in a case that has raised serious national security concerns.
The fungus at the center of the case is Fusarium graminearum, which scientific studies have classified as a “potential agroterrorism weapon.” This pathogen causes head blight disease in major crops including wheat, barley, maize, and rice, resulting in billions of dollars in global agricultural losses annually. The fungus produces toxins that cause vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive defects in both humans and livestock.
Liu Zunyong was caught attempting to smuggle the biological material through Detroit Metropolitan Airport in July. When questioned by Customs and Border Protection officers, he initially lied about his purpose for visiting the United States, later admitting he was trying to bring the pathogen into the country for research at a University of Michigan laboratory where his girlfriend Jian worked. Four clear plastic bags containing reddish plant material were discovered in his luggage, which he first claimed were planted by someone else before acknowledging they contained the deadly fungus.
Both suspects have connections to the Chinese government and studied plant pathogens at universities. Court documents reveal that Jian conducted postdoctoral research on biological pathogens that cause crop diseases and held membership in the Chinese Communist Party. Electronic evidence suggests she had previously been involved in smuggling biological materials into the United States on multiple occasions.
FBI investigation revealed concerning evidence on Liu’s electronic devices, including an article titled “2018 Plant-Pathogen Warfare under Changing Climate Conditions” that specifically references Fusarium graminearum as a destructive crop pathogen. Electronic communications between the couple showed they had discussed bringing biological materials into the United States despite Jian’s initial claims of ignorance about the smuggling operation.
The case highlights broader concerns about Chinese agricultural threats to American national security. Experts have warned that Chinese-made agricultural drones used on American farms could potentially be exploited by Beijing to deploy biological warfare against crops, threatening food security and economic stability. This concern is rooted in China’s military doctrine of “unrestricted warfare,” which advocates using all available methods against better-armed adversaries. The arrests represent a significant step in federal efforts to protect American agriculture and national security from biological threats.
This article is written with the assistance of generative artificial intelligence based solely on Washington Times original reporting and wire services. For more information, please read our AI policy or contact Ann Wog, Managing Editor for Digital, at awog@washingtontimes.com
The Washington Times AI Ethics Newsroom Committee can be reached at aispotlight@washingtontimes.com.