WASHINGTON, D.C. – A Congressman from Iowa is introducing legislation to address the threat of agroterrorism. It comes one week after two Chinese nationals were charged with smuggling a “potential agroterrorism weapon” via a noxious fungus into the U.S.
The proposed legislation aims to create a new criminal offense for importing, transporting, or possessing unauthorized high-risk agricultural biological agents. Violators could face up to 20 years in prison.
“This is not a red or blue issue. This is a national security issue,” said Iowa Rep. Zach Nunn (R).
Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, both citizens of the People’s Republic of China, were charged in a criminal complaint with conspiracy, smuggling goods into the United States, false statements, and visa fraud, officials said in a complaint unsealed last week..
According to officials, Jian worked at the University of Michigan, while her boyfriend, Liu, works at a Chinese university.
The investigation is a joint effort of the FBI and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
“The alleged actions of these Chinese nationals— including a loyal member of the Chinese Communist Party—are of the gravest national security concerns,” U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. said in his statement. “These two aliens have been charged with smuggling a fungus that has been described as a ‘potential agroterrorism weapon’ into the heartland of America, where they apparently intended to use a University of Michigan laboratory to further their scheme.”
The FBI arrested Jian in connection with smuggling activity into America a fungus called Fusarium graminearum, which scientific literature classifies as a potential agroterrorism weapon.
Officials said the “noxious fungus causes ‘head blight,’ a disease of wheat, barley, maize, and rice, and is responsible for billions of dollars in economic losses worldwide each year. Fusarium graminearum’s toxins cause vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive defects in humans and livestock.”
According to the complaint, Jian received Chinese government funding for her work on this pathogen in China.
The complaint also alleges that Jian’s electronics contain information describing her membership in and loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party. It is further alleged that Jian’s boyfriend, Liu, works at a Chinese university where he conducts research on the same pathogen and that he first lied but then admitted to smuggling Fusarium graminearum through Detroit Metropolitan Airport so that he could conduct research on it at the laboratory at the University of Michigan where Jian worked.
“This was a complex investigation involving CBP offices from across the country, alongside our federal partners. I’m grateful for their tireless efforts, ensuring our borders remain secure from all types of threats while safeguarding America’s national security interests,” Raybon said.
The university issued the following statement on the alleged incident:
“As one of the world’s leading public research institutions, the University of Michigan is dedicated to advancing knowledge, solving challenging problems, and improving nearly every facet of the human experience. Our research enterprise across all three campuses is united in this commitment to serving the people of Michigan and the world.”
‘We strongly condemn any actions that seek to cause harm, threaten national security or undermine the university’s critical public mission. It is important to note that the university has received no funding from the Chinese government in relation to research conducted by the accused individuals. We have and will continue to cooperate with federal law enforcement in its ongoing investigation and prosecution.”
It is the second time in a week that a Chinese national with ties to the University of Michigan has been charged in a federal investigation. Last week, a Chinese national who was attending the Ann Arbor-based university was charged with illegally voting in the November 2024 election.
Grant Kimberley of Kimberley Farms in Iowa expressed his concerns about agroterrorism. “We certainly use a lot of technology on our farms,” he said, emphasizing the need to protect these technologies to ensure a safe food supply.
Nunn highlighted that the bill would equip government agencies with tools to prevent agroterrorism. Kimberley believes the bill’s passage would benefit everyone. “A country needs to have strong, safe, affordable food, to be self-sufficient,” he said.
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