China Advances Its Biowarfare Program Through Infiltration of US Virus Labs: Retired US Army Colonel

A retired army officer claimed militarily linked Chinese scientists infiltrate U.S. virology research institutions and feed their military its research results.

Colonel Lawrence Sellin, USAR-Ret., said China’s government mandated the fusion of military and civilian research in 2016, according to a report in The Epoch Times. Sellin noted in an interview with EpochTV’s “Crossroads,” it applied even if the research is carried out by different institutions.

“China’s biological warfare program exists at three levels,” the retired colonel explained.

“The first level is the secret military level and this is composed of military research centers and military hospitals.”

“The second layer, which is fused to the first layer, are China’s universities, their so-called civilian research centers like the Wuhan Institute of Virology, and also some of the biotech companies in China,” Sellin said.

The third level is comprised of international universities and research labs, he added.

Sellin explained that the third-level information available to Chinese researchers residing abroad is shared with scientists in China. The combined data is eventually funneled to the military.

Research collaboration between American and Chinese institutions began in 1979 with an agreement between then-President Jimmy Carter and Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping that let Chinese scientists study and work in the United States, Sellin said.

Many of the earliest Chinese scientists arriving in the United States for training belonged to the People’s Liberation Army, he said. Some remained in the United States, even becoming permanent residents or citizens, Sellin added.

“During this time, they maintain collaboration with scientists in mainland China, including scientists from the People’s Liberation Army, so I call it scientific chain migration,” the retired army officer remarked. “Those in the initial wave, who established themselves in laboratories in the United States began inviting other scientists from China, again, from the People’s Liberation Army and also other research centers in China, to the United States.”

“Over the last 30 years, they’ve created a critical mass of scientists who continue to work with scientists back in mainland China.”