Daijiworld Media Network – Washington

Washington, Jun 4: In a startling development raising serious biosecurity concerns, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested a Chinese national, Yunqing Jian, for allegedly smuggling a dangerous biological pathogen — a deadly fungus known to devastate global food crops — into the United States.

FBI official Kash Patel took to social media on Tuesday to announce the arrest, stating that Jian had expressed loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and had received funding from the Chinese government for conducting similar research on the pathogen back in China.

According to Patel, the accused smuggled the Fusarium graminearum fungus — identified as an agroterrorism agent — into the US under the pretext of conducting research at the University of Michigan. “This fungus causes 'head blight', a destructive disease that affects wheat, barley, maize, and rice, leading to significant health complications in both humans and livestock, and is responsible for billions of dollars in losses globally every year,” he said.

The FBI has also named Jian’s boyfriend, Zunyong Liu, who is affiliated with a Chinese university, in the investigation. He allegedly tried to bring the same pathogen into the US through Detroit Metropolitan Airport and faces similar charges.

Both individuals have been charged with conspiracy, smuggling goods into the US, visa fraud, and making false statements to authorities. The investigation was conducted jointly by the FBI and the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Patel, in his post, warned of a broader national security threat, claiming that the CCP is “working around the clock” to infiltrate American institutions and compromise the country’s food supply through covert operatives and researchers.

“This is not just an act of scientific malpractice, but one of biological sabotage — a threat that could have had grave consequences for both public health and the economy,” Patel asserted.

The arrests come amid escalating tensions between the US and China, and closely follow recent policy measures by the US administration to revoke visas of certain Chinese students over security concerns. The incident is expected to intensify scrutiny on foreign research collaborations and raise new alarms over biosecurity in American universities.