After two Chinese nationals were arrested for allegedly smuggling a toxic fungus into the United States, an expert called for drastic action to combat what he describes as a coordinated communist plot against the nation. The arrested individuals, Yunqing Jian and Zunyong Liu, were reportedly involved in smuggling Fusarium graminearum, a fungus that causes crop-damaging head blight and has toxic effects on humans. Attorney and Chinese Communist Party expert Gordon Chang, who has previously warned about Chinese infiltration, urged the U.S. government to consider severing relations with China entirely. He stated that such an action is necessary to prevent potential biological threats that could be more severe than the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jian and Liu were allegedly smuggling the fungus over a two-year period, and their academic backgrounds at the University of Michigan, where part of the research was funded by the Chinese government, have raised concerns. Chang cited recent incidents of Chinese nationals being arrested in the U.S., including a 2020 case involving breach of a Naval air station and a 2022 espionage conviction, as evidence of a broader pattern of infiltration. He also mentioned the 2019 ‘People’s War’ strategy, a Mao Zedong military approach that involves a protracted attack on the enemy, and suggested that this incident could be part of an ongoing effort by the Chinese government to engage in a strategic conflict with the U.S.
Chang emphasized the economic and health risks associated with the fungus, noting that it could disrupt food supplies and raise prices, potentially leading to significant economic losses. He warned that such a biological threat could cause widespread disruption, with the potential to impact both food security and the economy. The expert also highlighted recent cases of Chinese entities sending unsolicited seeds and goods to American consumers, framing these actions as part of a larger strategy to undermine the U.S. agricultural sector.
Other notable cases include the 2024 arrest of five Chinese nationals who were found photographing a joint American-Taiwanese military exercise at Camp Grayling. These incidents, according to Chang, demonstrate the extent of Chinese infiltration into U.S. academic and military institutions. He further warned that the U.S. must be prepared for the possibility of a biological attack, emphasizing the need for a strong and decisive response to the perceived threat from China.