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US-China relations
ChinaDiplomacy

China slams US ‘political manipulation’ as research pair face fungus smuggling charge

Charges against Jian Yunqing and Liu Zunyong include conspiracy, smuggling ‘dangerous biological pathogen’ into US and visa fraud

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The pair are alleged to have planned to carry out research on the material at a University of Michigan laboratory. Photo: TNS
Vanessa Caiin Shanghai
China has condemned “political manipulation” by the United States and its “overstretched concept of national security”, days after two Chinese researchers were charged with illegally importing a toxic fungus described by US authorities as a “dangerous biological pathogen”.

The Chinese Consulate in Chicago said in a statement on Saturday that it was seeking information about the case and had lodged a “stern representation” with the US side.

This comes after the US Department of Justice announced on Tuesday that Chinese citizens Jian Yunqing, 33, a research fellow at the University of Michigan, and her boyfriend, Liu Zunyong, 34, had been accused of attempting to smuggle the fungus pathogen Fusarium graminearum into the country last year.
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They allegedly planned to carry out research on the material at a University of Michigan laboratory where Jian worked.

In its statement, the consulate said: “The Chinese government has always required Chinese citizens abroad to strictly abide by local laws and regulations, including those related to entry and exit.

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“At the same time, China lawfully safeguards the legitimate rights and interests of its citizens overseas and firmly opposes the US side’s political manipulation of the case under the pretext of ideology and an overstretched concept of national security.”

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