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Two Chinese students accused of smuggling fungus into the US

Federal authorities have charged two Chinese nationals with smuggling fungus into the United States. The case comes as Washington moves to restrict the entry of more Chinese students.

The defendants are Jian Yunqing (33) and Liu Zunyong (34), a couple. US authorities say that last July, Liu carried several small packets of Fusarium graminearum upon entry. This fungus can cause a disease that devastates wheat, barley, corn, and rice.

US Department of Agriculture-funded research shows that head blight, also known as scab, is a common disease affecting American farmers, particularly in northern and eastern states.

The case differs from previous national security cases

For decades, US national security officials have worried about Chinese scholars stealing research intelligence from American universities and companies, and there have been similar arrests in the past. However, this case is different: Jian and Liu are not accused of taking materials out of the US, but of bringing in harmful substances.

According to the criminal complaint, customs at Detroit Metropolitan Airport seized the fungus last summer. Liu initially denied ownership but eventually admitted the smuggling was for research at the University of Michigan laboratory, where Jian worked.

The complaint also states that Jian's phone contained a performance evaluation form she signed in January 2024 regarding her research at a Chinese university. The form included a pledge of loyalty to China, supporting the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, and implementing the Party's educational policies.