LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s statement last week regarding the department’s mission to “aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students” appears perfectly timed with the arrest of two Chinese nationals who allegedly used their University of Michigan credentials to smuggle a bioweapon into the country.
U of M condemns the actions.
The University of Michigan released a statement to Michigan News Source. It read, “We strongly condemn any actions that seek to cause harm, threaten national security or undermine the university’s critical public mission.” School officials also added, “The university has received no funding from the Chinese government in relation to research conducted by the accused individuals. We have and will continue to cooperate with federal law enforcement in its ongoing investigation and prosecution.”
Congresswoman Dingell: Maintaining “global perspectives in education while upholding our national security.”
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Michigan News Source reached out Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Dingell whose district encompasses parts of Ann Arbor. She said, “I’m very disturbed by the attempt to smuggle a potential agroterrorism weapon into the U.S. through Michigan. International students contribute significantly to the learning experience, and to American progress and innovation, and there should be a place for them at the University of Michigan.”
But Dingell went one step further, saying, “At the same time, we must take these threats very seriously and work together to maintain global perspectives in education while upholding our national security. There must be strong penalties for these actions so we send a clear message that any future perpetrators will be caught and there will be serious consequences.”
Michigan News Source also contacted Democratic State Rep. Carrie Rheingans who represents Ann Arbor as well. She did not respond by press time.
Congressman Moolenaar: “A threat against our country.”
In addition, Michigan News Source received this statement from Republican Congressman John Moolenaar. He said “The criminal charges unsealed in federal court show loyal members of the Chinese Communist Party were planning to experiment on a plant disease that would devastate Michigan agriculture and the food supply our nation depends on.”
Rep. Moolenaar continued, “This case should be fully prosecuted as a threat against our country. This is only further proof that American universities must be more vigilant when it comes to research security and the participation of Chinese nationals in these institutions,” he said.
Silence Speaks: Where are Whitmer and Nessel?
This international story exploded in the past 24-hours with no comment yet from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer or Attorney General Dana Nessel. Whitmer may find herself in an awkward position to denounce the Chinese since she enticed several companies into the state with taxpayer dollars. Those projects include Gotion in Big Rapids and CATL in Marshall.
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The problem stemming from the alleged agroterrorism charges not only has obvious state implications but also threatens the food supply on a national scale as well. A team working with the U.S. Justice Department said the fungus Fusarium graminearum is classified “as a potential agroterrorism weapon” and causes disease in wheat, barley, maize, and rice. Releasing that fungus could have threatened the U.S. food supply, and people who ate the infected foods could become sick with vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive defects.
The new landscape for international students.
Rubio said the visa revocation also includes people “with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields.” The state department is also revising “visa criteria to enhance scrutiny of all future visa applications from the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong.”
