From Fox News: Three Chinese nationals have been charged with conspiring to smuggle biological materials into the U.S. while they were employees at a University of Michigan laboratory.
Xu Bai, 28, Fengfan Zhang, 27, and Zhiyong Zhang, 30, were charged on Wednesday after allegedly making false statements to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in order to import materials that were related to roundworms sent from China under the cover of research at the University of Michigan, according to prosecutors.
The Chinese nationals worked at the University of Michigan’s Shawn Xu laboratory. Chengxuan Han, who also previously worked at the laboratory, was earlier charged with smuggling and making false statements. She pleaded no contest before being removed from the U.S.
After Han’s removal from the U.S., the university launched an internal investigation. Bai, Zhang and Zhang refused to cooperate with the investigation and were terminated, which made them eligible for deportation. The three allegedly tried to board a flight to China on Oct. 16 from John F. Kennedy International Airport when they were stopped for further inspection.
The report shares details on the three Chinese nationals who were arrested in the scheme:
Xu Bai, 28: Bai was in the U.S. under the J-1 visa academic exchange program at the University of Michigan and charged with conspiring to smuggle biological materials into the United States.
Fengfan Zhang, 27: Zhang was also in the U.S. under the J-1 visa academic exchange program at the University of Michigan and charged with conspiring to smuggle biological materials into the United States.
Zhiyong Zhang, 30: Zhang was in the U.S. under the J-1 visa academic exchange program at the University of Michigan and charged with conspiring to smuggle biological materials into the United States.
🚨The DOJ has charged three Chinese nationals with smuggling biological materials from @UMich.
This case began after the Select Committee, alongside Chairmen @RepWalberg and @RepBrianBabin, demanded answers about CCP-linked research activity on U.S. campuses.…
— Select Committee on China (@ChinaSelect) November 5, 2025
The House Select Committee on China said in a statement, “These charges expose what we’ve long warned: China is running a coordinated campaign to infiltrate American universities and steal taxpayer-funded innovation. Every U.S. research institution should be on alert and take steps now to protect their labs and research.”
“That’s why Chairman @RepMoolenaar is working to advance the SAFE Research Act to stop federal STEM dollars from flowing to universities or researchers tied to China’s military and intelligence services. The Select Committee will continue using every tool of oversight to defend U.S. research and national security.”
That’s why Chairman @RepMoolenaar is working to advance the SAFE Research Act to stop federal STEM dollars from flowing to universities or researchers tied to China’s military and intelligence services.
The Select Committee will continue using every tool of oversight to defend…
— Select Committee on China (@ChinaSelect) November 5, 2025
3 Chinese scholars charged with attempting to smuggle biological materials under the guise of ‘research’ https://t.co/eCHrU4qt7N
— Peter Schweizer (@peterschweizer) November 6, 2025
Three Chinese National scholars from University of Michigan laboratory charged for conspiring to smuggle biological materials into the U.S. https://t.co/fgnnu7EtDE @FBIDetroit pic.twitter.com/Wicm6h4R2n
— FBI (@FBI) November 6, 2025
READ MORE details on this case from Fox News.
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