It was a post-doc student who wanted to continue his research at UMich on the fungus to develop ways to prevent blight. His peer-reviewed published research on the topic is available through google scholar: Google Scholar Link. He was wrong to try and sneak it in, but this looks like a dedicated scientific researcher making a bad decision - not an attempted terrorist attack.
Denying it confirms the intent behind the move was malicious. Wether it was done by him or anyone else, so this pretty much confirms it as an attempted attack on the US by China or at worst, a single chinese person.
In the article :
“Liu stated that he intentionally hid the samples in his backpack because he knew there were restrictions on the importation of the materials,” the complaint says. “Liu confirmed that he had intentionally put the samples in a wad of tissues so CBP Officers would be less likely to find and confiscate them, and he could continue his research in the United States.”
“But an examination of Liu’s and Jian’s electronic devices uncovered WeChat messages from 2022 in which they discussed smuggling seeds into the United States.”
That was only his initial story. Immediately after that, the article says he intentionally hid the samples in (used?) tissues so CBP would be less likely to find them.
It was a post-doc student who wanted to continue his research at UMich on the fungus to develop ways to prevent blight. His peer-reviewed published research on the topic is available through google scholar: Google Scholar Link. He was wrong to try and sneak it in, but this looks like a dedicated scientific researcher making a bad decision - not an attempted terrorist attack.
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Well admitting to the crime is a poor defense.
Denying it confirms the intent behind the move was malicious. Wether it was done by him or anyone else, so this pretty much confirms it as an attempted attack on the US by China or at worst, a single chinese person.
In the article : “Liu stated that he intentionally hid the samples in his backpack because he knew there were restrictions on the importation of the materials,” the complaint says. “Liu confirmed that he had intentionally put the samples in a wad of tissues so CBP Officers would be less likely to find and confiscate them, and he could continue his research in the United States.”
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“But an examination of Liu’s and Jian’s electronic devices uncovered WeChat messages from 2022 in which they discussed smuggling seeds into the United States.”
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Read every one of his 30 published Google Scholar-linked articles.
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I have bad news for you about… well, basically all of science. It’s done by humans, and humans are notoriously fallible.
Academic Nerds: famously good on the spot when challenged by authority figures.
That was only his initial story. Immediately after that, the article says he intentionally hid the samples in (used?) tissues so CBP would be less likely to find them.
giving them benefit of doubt - they still fucked up. they should get a permit with help of their PI and bring it in overtly with all proper paperwork