Two Chinese nationals have been charged with smuggling a dangerous biological pathogen into the United States. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the pathogen—Fusarium graminearum—could be used in agroterrorism, threatening crops and food security.
The accused are Zunyong Liu, 34, and Yunqing Jian, 33. Liu reportedly carried the fungus during a visit to Jian in July 2024. She worked at a University of Michigan lab.
According to an FBI complaint, the fungus was brought in without proper declaration or permits. Liu later admitted that the purpose was to conduct joint research on U.S. soil.
This particular biological pathogen is no joke. It causes “head blight” in crops, a condition that’s already responsible for billions in losses every year. The toxins it releases? They don’t just hurt plants. They can also trigger vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive issues in both humans and animals.
Authorities say Jian received Chinese government funding for her work. Even more troubling, her devices reportedly contain links to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
“Their actions posed an imminent threat to public safety,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, special agent in charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office.
U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. added that these actions are of “grave national security concern.” He didn’t mince words—calling the smuggled fungus a “potential agroterrorism weapon” and pointing out that the scheme involved a CCP-linked researcher using a U.S. lab for unauthorized research.
FBI Director Kash Patel called this case a “sobering reminder” of how the Chinese Communist Party tries to infiltrate American institutions—from campuses to research labs.
New… I can confirm that the FBI arrested a Chinese national within the United States who allegedly smuggled a dangerous biological pathogen into the country.
The individual, Yunqing Jian, is alleged to have smuggled a dangerous fungus called “Fusarium graminearum,” which is an…
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) June 3, 2025
This all unfolds as tensions rise between the U.S. and China. Just days earlier, the Trump administration moved to crack down on visas for Chinese nationals tied to sensitive research fields.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that future visa applicants from China and Hong Kong will face stricter background checks, especially those with links to the CCP.
Let’s be real—academic exchange isn’t the issue here. It’s the weaponization of science, and using universities as backdoors.
This isn’t Cold War nostalgia. It’s Cold War reality—with lab coats and petri dishes.
