FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that two Chinese nationals were arrested in the United States for allegedly bringing a harmful biological substance into the country. In a post on X, Patel said, “New… I can confirm that the FBI arrested a Chinese national within the United States who allegedly smuggled a dangerous biological pathogen into the country.”
New… I can confirm that the FBI arrested a Chinese national within the United States who allegedly smuggled a dangerous biological pathogen into the country.
The individual, Yunqing Jian, is alleged to have smuggled a dangerous fungus called "Fusarium graminearum," which is an…
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) June 3, 2025
Dangerous Fungus Allegedly Smuggled for Research
Patel identified the person as Yunqing Jian, who works at the University of Michigan. She allegedly brought a hazardous fungus called Fusarium graminearum into the U.S. This fungus is classified as an agroterrorism agent because it can seriously damage crops like wheat, barley, maize, and rice. It can also pose health risks to humans and animals.
“This fungus can cause a disease called ‘head blight,’ a disease of wheat, barley, maize, and rice, causing significant health issues in both humans and livestock. It is responsible for billions of dollars in economic losses worldwide each year,” Patel explained.
Links to Chinese Government
Patel said that there is evidence that Jian received financial support from the Chinese government and expressed loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party. She reportedly conducted similar research in China.
Her boyfriend, Zunyong Liu, has also been charged. He works at a Chinese university and studies the same fungus. According to the FBI, Liu initially denied wrongdoing but later admitted to smuggling the same fungus through Detroit Metropolitan Airport. He intended to conduct research at the University of Michigan as well.
Charges Filed Against the Couple
Both Jian and Liu face multiple charges. These include conspiracy, smuggling goods into the U.S., making false statements, and visa fraud.
Patel emphasized the broader risk, saying the case shows that the Chinese Communist Party is using researchers and operatives to target U.S. institutions. He warned this could threaten the American food supply and harm the economy and public health.
“Our @FBIDetroit team did excellent work in this case partnering with @CBP. Justice will be done,” he added. “Your FBI will continue working tirelessly to be on guard against it.”
Trade Tensions Add to the Strain
This incident comes at a time when tensions between China and the U.S. are already high, especially over trade issues.
Recently, the Chinese commerce ministry rejected former President Donald Trump’s claims that China had backed out of a trade agreement made during talks in Geneva. The ministry called Trump’s accusations “groundless” and said the U.S. was making “unreasonable” demands.
China also criticized the U.S. for applying new restrictions. These include tighter controls on exporting AI chips, limits on selling chip design software, and canceling Chinese student visas.
Trump, on his platform TruthSocial, said he would no longer be “Mr. Nice Guy” with China, although he didn’t give specific details. Later, he mentioned at a briefing that he planned to speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping to try to resolve the issue.
