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UMich Labs: China's Back Door for Bio-Weapons?
2 Dec
Summary
- Three Chinese nationals arrested for smuggling biological materials.
- Dangerous pathogens, including modified worms and crop fungus, targeted.
- University labs allegedly used as conduits for illicit Chinese operations.
The University of Michigan, a prestigious institution, is facing scrutiny as a potential conduit for Chinese illicit activities. Recent federal arrests detail how Chinese nationals allegedly used campus labs to smuggle genetically modified biological materials, including roundworms and crop-killing fungi, into the United States. These substances pose significant risks to national and agricultural security.
These cases follow previous arrests and deportations of Chinese individuals involved in similar smuggling schemes. Prosecutors allege that university research labs were intentionally used to further these dangerous plots. Experts warn that even possessing or modifying existing pathogens without permits presents severe national security risks, indicating a concerning pattern of exploitation.
Concerns are amplified by the university's extensive research partnerships and significant foreign funding from Chinese entities. While the university states it cooperates with investigations and reviews security protocols, the ongoing scandals have prompted federal inquiries into foreign funding and raised alarms about potential sabotage and Beijing's military ambitions.
