U.S. Authorities Charge Chinese Nationals With Smuggling Biological Samples

The U.S. government has uncovered efforts by Chinese researchers to smuggle biological samples into the United States. On June 9, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrested Chengxuan Han on suspicion of illicitly sending the material to a University of Michigan laboratory. Han is the third Chinese national whom authorities have accused over the past two weeks of smuggling biological samples. The FBI arrested Yunqing Jian, a researcher at the University of Michigan, on June 3. The Department of Justice subsequently charged her and her China-based boyfriend, Zunyong Liu, with illegally importing “biological pathogens.”

Beyond the university connection, it is unclear if the two cases are directly related, as Han worked in a separate Chinese lab from Jian and Lui and focused on a different area of research. Still, these allegations demonstrate the dangers associated with unvetted American-Chinese academic collaboration as Beijing pushes to overtake the United States as a global scientific and technological leader.

U.S. Accuses Academics of Smuggling Biological Agents, Lab Samples

The FBI arrested Chengxuan Han, a Ph.D. student in molecular biophysics at Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), for allegedly smuggling roundworm samples into the United States. After HUST warned Han to finish her studies prior to mid-June, she reportedly planned to continue her research at the University of Michigan, having previously published with several scientists working there. Han has also previously conducted research with Jianfeng Liu, a dean at HUST who has worked at the People’s Liberation Army Central Hospital — a key institution for research in genetic editing.

Along with contributing to China’s national biobanking project, which has ties to the Chinese military, HUST openly hosts several defense laboratories focused on artificial intelligence (AI) — an area of research partially shared by Han’s program of study.

The United States accused Yunqing Jian and Zunyong Liu of illegally bringing Fusarium graminearum, a fungus known for harming crops, to the University of Michigan, where Jian was working on research related to the organism. Faculty logs indicate that Liu was a researcher at the Institute of Biotechnology at Zhejiang University and was part of China’s Hundred Talents program — a government campaign linked to intellectual property theft in strategic industries, including biotechnology.

Both scientists previously worked at the Key State Laboratory of Rice Biology, which has received government funds from Programs 863 and 973, both of which are intended to finance basic research but have allegedly been used by Beijing to acquire American technologies.

China Relies on Academic Espionage to Further Scientific Ambitions

Having set the goal of being a world leader in science and technology by 2035, Beijing has increased spending on science, with its fiscal commitments to research outpacing the country’s projected economic growth rate of 5 percent. Nonetheless, many Chinese scientists struggle to secure grant funding and access to professional opportunities, incentivizing many to pursue research in the United States.

Chinese scholars and students have previously been suspects in intellectual property theft investigations. An investigation by the U.S. House China Select Committee in September 2024 revealed that American academics and universities had contributed to key Chinese defense-related projects, including AI. The FBI has also accused Chinese students of committing espionage at U.S. military facilities, including five students who allegedly spied on Camp Graylin while at the University of Michigan.

Washington Must Improve Screening Measures

While these cases do not currently appear to be related to a larger campaign, the arrests highlight a growing concern over Chinese research, often related to military programs, conducted in the United States.

In response, the Departments of Homeland Security, State, and Education must expand the screening of Chinese academics and joint academic initiatives while blocking any research conducted with universities known to be actively collaborating with the Chinese military. Along with enhancing visa processing measures, the Department of Justice should restart the China Initiative to actively probe for academic espionage within the United States.

Jack Burnham is a research analyst in the China Program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), where Miles Kershner is an intern. For more analysis from the authors and FDD, please subscribe HERE. Follow Jack on X @JackBurnham802. Follow FDD on X @FDD. FDD is a Washington, DC-based, nonpartisan research institute focusing on national security and foreign policy.