Overview

• Two Chinese nationals, Yunqing Jian and Zunyong Liu, were charged with conspiracy, smuggling, false statements and visa fraud for bringing Fusarium graminearum into the country for research at the University of Michigan
• Fusarium graminearum causes head blight in wheat, barley and maize and produces toxins controlled by testing and fungicides, though experts note the pathogen is already widespread in U.S. fields
• Jian was arrested on June 3 in Detroit and remains in custody while Liu is believed to have returned to China and is wanted under an arrest warrant
• FBI officials and several lawmakers have described the case as evidence of Chinese Communist Party efforts to infiltrate American institutions and threaten the national food supply during stalled trade talks
• Michigan and federal legislators are advancing measures to restrict CCP-linked land purchases, tighten oversight of foreign researchers and revoke visas for individuals with ties to the Chinese government