Two Chinese citizens have been arrested and charged in what U.S. federal authorities are calling a serious national security case involving the alleged smuggling of a dangerous biological pathogen into the United States.
According to charges announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan on Tuesday, Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, are accused of attempting to bring the fungal pathogen Fusarium graminearum through Detroit Metropolitan Airport, with plans to conduct unauthorized research on it at a University of Michigan laboratory.
Authorities describe the fungus as highly dangerous. It causes severe disease in major crops such as wheat, maize, barley, and rice, with the potential to devastate food supplies and disrupt economies. If consumed, contaminated crops can lead to vomiting, liver damage, and other serious health complications. Scientific literature, referenced in the complaint, identifies the fungus as a “potential agroterrorism weapon,” linked to billions of dollars in agricultural losses globally each year.
U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. labeled the case “one of the gravest national security concerns,” saying the pair allegedly aimed to exploit a lab at the University of Michigan — where Jian was employed — for illicit research activities. Liu allegedly tried to bring the pathogen into the U.S. concealed in a package through customs at the airport.
Investigators say Jian received research funding from the Chinese government and that she is affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party, further heightening geopolitical tensions surrounding the case.
Jian is scheduled to appear in court in Detroit on Tuesday. Charges filed against the duo include conspiracy, smuggling goods, false statements, and visa fraud.
The case is part of a joint investigation led by the FBI and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and comes at a time of escalating diplomatic friction between Washington and Beijing. Just last week, the Trump administration vowed to aggressively revoke visas for certain Chinese students and researchers, while Beijing accused the U.S. of violating a recent tariff truce.
Adding to the scrutiny on Chinese students, a University of Michigan student from China was also charged earlier this week for illegally voting in the 2024 U.S. election, raising further concerns among federal officials over academic and political misconduct involving foreign nationals.
The University of Michigan and the Chinese embassy in Washington have yet to comment on the latest developments.