A top American expert on China has raised alarm about a potential threat “worse than Covid” following the arrest of two Chinese scientists accused of smuggling a dangerous fungus into the United States.

Yunqing Jian, 33, and her boyfriend, Zunyong Liu, 34, allegedly tried to bring into the US a fungus named Fusarium graminearum. This fungus causes a serious plant disease called "head blight," which affects important crops like wheat, barley, corn, and rice. The US Justice Department says the fungus is seen as a “potential agroterrorism weapon” because it causes huge crop losses and can harm both humans and animals by causing vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive problems.

Gordon G Chang, a leading US expert on Chinese affairs, told Fox News that the couple’s actions are like “waging war” on America. He warned that if the US doesn’t act strongly, such as cutting off ties with China, the country might face threats “perhaps with something worse” than the COVID pandemic.

Chang also mentioned the ongoing debate about the origins of COVID-19. Some experts think the virus was made in a Chinese lab, adding to tensions between the two countries.

In May 2019, China’s official newspaper, People’s Daily, published an editorial declaring a “people’s war” on the US. Chang said this shows how seriously the Chinese Communist Party takes its hostility. He added, “What they are doing with their strident anti-Americanism is creating a justification to strike our country. This means the couple, for instance, should be sent to Guantanamo.”

He explained that Chinese President Xi Jinping frequently talks about going to war and is preparing the whole country for conflict. Chang warned that the US could lose its standing if it doesn’t defend itself with enough determination.

Chang pointed to previous incidents that seem like attempts to harm the US, such as Americans receiving unsolicited seeds from China in 2020 and again this year through online retailers. He said, “The only way to stop this is to sever relations with China. And I know people think that's drastic, but we are being overwhelmed.”

He warned, “We are going to get hit eventually. We are going to get hit really hard, not just with Covid, not just with fentanyl, but perhaps with something worse.”

About Gordon G Chang

Chang is the author of several books, including China Is Going to War. He has spent nearly 20 years living and working in China and Hong Kong, working as a lawyer for major international law firms.

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