“Worse Than Covid”: US-China Tensions Spike After Fungus Smuggling Case Raises Bioterror Fears
In a chilling warning that echoes the darkest days of the pandemic, top US-based China expert Gordon G Chang has raised alarm bells over what he calls a new and potentially catastrophic threat — this time, not a virus, but a fungus.
The concerns come just days after federal charges were filed against two Chinese nationals, Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34. The couple allegedly attempted to smuggle a dangerous fungus called Fusarium graminearum into the United States. This fungus, commonly associated with crop devastation, is known to cause head blight — a disease that attacks wheat, barley, maize, and rice — threatening both food security and economic stability.
But the threat goes deeper. According to scientific literature and US authorities, this fungus is considered a potential agroterrorism weapon. It doesn’t just ruin crops — it’s toxic to humans and animals, potentially causing vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive harm.
Speaking to Fox News, Chang did not mince words. “We are being overwhelmed,” he said. “If we don’t act, we’re going to be hit with something even worse than Covid.” He believes this smuggling attempt could be part of a larger pattern of aggression — one that includes unsolicited seed deliveries to US households from China, and increasing anti-American rhetoric from Chinese state media.
Chang, who has spent decades working and living in China and Hong Kong, has long warned of China’s rising hostility towards the West. He points to a 2019 editorial from China’s state-run People’s Daily, which declared a “people’s war” against the United States — language that, in communist political doctrine, signals far more than just propaganda.
“This isn’t just about two scientists. It’s about a broader mindset,” he said. “We’re not defending ourselves with the urgency this moment demands.”
He argues that incidents like these aren’t isolated. From Covid-19’s controversial origins to fentanyl smuggling and now dangerous agricultural pathogens, Chang believes the US must take the threat seriously — even if that means considering extreme diplomatic steps like cutting ties with China.
“This was an attack,” he said bluntly. “And unless we treat it like one, we risk facing something far worse.”
Chang is the author of several books, including China Is Going to War, and previously served as a partner at international law firms in Shanghai and Hong Kong. His comments have added new urgency to growing questions about biosecurity, global diplomacy, and the invisible threats that may lie ahead.
News Source : “Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.”
