Chang told Fox News Digital, “The only way to stop this is to sever relations with China. I know that sounds drastic, but we are going to get hit hard — maybe with something worse than COVID, maybe worse than fentanyl.”
Why is Fusarium graminearum being called a bioterror weapon?
The biological agent at the center of the case is Fusarium graminearum, a toxic fungus known to cause “head blight” — a disease that devastates crops like wheat, barley, maize, and rice. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, this pathogen causes billions of dollars in agricultural losses globally each year.
But the threat goes beyond crops. The fungus produces toxins that are harmful to humans and livestock, leading to vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive defects. That’s what makes this smuggling case not just an agricultural concern but a potential bioterrorism threat.
“This couple should be sent to Guantánamo,” Chang said. “This was an attack on the United States, and we’re not treating it that way.”
Are Chinese research ties with U.S. universities a national security risk?
The suspect Yunqing Jian was working as a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Michigan. Her work, in part, was funded by China, raising deeper questions about how China’s Communist Party may be using American universities to advance covert biological programs. This is not the first incident. In recent years, multiple Chinese nationals studying in the U.S. have been arrested in connection with espionage, smuggling, and surveillance.
- In 2020, two Chinese graduate students from the University of Michigan were caught illegally entering a Naval air station in Key West, Florida, and taking photos of defense infrastructure.
- In 2021, Harvard professor Charles Lieber was convicted for hiding his ties to China’s Thousand Talents Program, which incentivizes foreign scientists to leak sensitive technology.
- In 2022, Ji Chaoqun, a Chinese national at the Illinois Institute of Technology, was convicted of espionage and sentenced to 8 years in prison.
- In 2024, five Chinese students were charged for photographing military drills at Camp Grayling, a National Guard training site in Michigan, under a joint program with Shanghai’s Jiao Tong University.
What is China’s ‘People’s War’ and how does it relate to the U.S.?
The term “People’s War” was coined by Mao Zedong, who led China’s Communist Party through decades of brutal political persecution. Chang argues that recent actions by Chinese nationals inside the U.S. may align with this long-term strategy, calling it a protracted campaign to wear down American strength from within.
“For a communist party, this strategy has deep meaning,” said Chang. “Their anti-American propaganda is creating justification for attacks. These are not random acts.”
He also cited the 2019 declaration of a People’s War by Chinese officials, which may signal a shift from economic competition to covert warfare — including bioterror, cyberattacks, and food supply disruptions.
Could China weaponize America’s own food supply?
Experts are now warning that introducing deadly pathogens like Fusarium graminearum into American agriculture could have devastating ripple effects.
“Imagine walking into your grocery store and finding no bread, cereal, or even pet food,” said Jason Pack, a former FBI supervisory special agent. “That’s how quickly a pathogen like this can wreck our food system.”
A widespread infection would:
- Raise food prices
- Harm livestock
- Halt exports
- Trigger major supply chain disruptions
This is not a theoretical threat. In 2020, Americans across all 50 states received unsolicited seed packages from China. Chang says this was “an attempt to plant invasive species.” More recently, Chinese online retailer Temu has reportedly shipped similar seeds to American consumers.
What happens next and is the U.S. doing enough?
Jian and Liu have been charged with conspiracy, smuggling, false statements, and visa fraud. But critics argue that such cases are being treated too lightly given the gravity of the threat.
Chang warned, “We can lose our country, even though we’re the stronger nation, because we are not defending ourselves with the determination that’s needed.”
With a pattern of infiltration through education, espionage, and now bioterror, many believe it’s time for the U.S. to reassess its relationship with China — especially when it comes to university research, international student programs, and agricultural imports.
Is this the beginning of a bigger threat?
This week’s arrests may just be the latest chapter in a wider strategy. While America focuses on defending against conventional attacks, experts are now urging a shift in priorities — one that includes biological and agricultural threats posed by foreign adversaries like China.
Whether through seeds, spyware, or smuggled fungi, the tactics may be subtle — but the potential consequences are massive.
FAQs:
Q1: What is the Chinese bioterror threat in the U.S.?
Chinese nationals were caught smuggling a dangerous crop fungus, raising fears of biological attacks.
Q2: Why are Chinese bioterror suspects linked to U.S. universities?
Some suspects were studying in U.S. universities, with ties to Chinese government-funded programs.
