Chinese scholars accused of smuggling biological material into US agree to stay in jail
There was concern that Han Chengxuan and Jian Yunqing would flee the US if released on bond, like a Chinese national in an unrelated case
Two University of Michigan scholars from China accused of smuggling biological material into the US agreed on Friday to be jailed without bond while their criminal cases are pending in federal court.
The decision by Han Chengxuan and Jian Yunqing came amid concerns that the Chinese nationals would flee the US if released on bond while facing criminal charges.
That concern has increased in the two weeks since prosecutors charged another Chinese national studying at UM, 19-year-old Haoxiang Gao, with fleeing the US in January to avoid prosecution despite surrendering his Chinese passport and obtaining a second travel document. Gao is accused of voting illegally in the 2024 election.
Han, Jian and Gao are among four Chinese nationals with ties to UM charged with federal crimes in the last two weeks.
The criminal cases were filed amid plans by the Trump administration to revoke Chinese student visas nationwide, and the arrests have raised concerns about whether Chinese nationals are part of a campaign by the Chinese government to terrorise the US agricultural industry and meddle in elections.
A handcuffed Han, 28, wearing an orange Sanilac County Jail uniform, her ankles restrained by chains, said nothing beyond answering basic questions routed through a Mandarin translator.