An illegal Chinese biolab was discovered in California, prompting concerns about the potential national security threat.
The lab owner, Jia Bei Zhu, was found to have ties to the Chinese government and was involved in criminal activities. There are criticisms against the FBI and CDC for not investigating the lab sooner.
Local officials and House members are critical of the CDC’s investigation and believe that more illegal labs may exist across the U.S.
The international fugitive behind the secret Chinese bio lab found in California, Jesse Zhu, has been arrested and charged in federal court. He received large "unexplained" payments from China while operating the lab.
Many questions remain, which Congress must continue to… pic.twitter.com/9KhzN02ybm
— Kevin Kiley (@KevinKileyCA) November 22, 2023
GOP Rep. Ashley Hinson said, “It reads like a movie script and a horror movie script, when you detail all of those things that were missed.”
The lab was allegedly being run by Chinese national and Canadian fugitive, Jia Bei Zhu.
“We want to know how he was able to obtain these pathogens,” explained Hinson.
“How is he able to get away with running a lab, getting millions of dollars sent to him from the Chinese Communist Party and then obviously coming into our country stealing American intellectual property?” exclaimed the Iowa lawmaker.
WOW: Secret unlicensed Chinese biolab raided in California, CDC found infectious viral agents such as malaria, rubella, HIV, chlamydia, E. Coli, streptococcus pneumonia, hepatitis, and herpes.
The lab also had 900 genetically engineered mice living in ‘inhumane’ conditions with… pic.twitter.com/lGYhiuxwO1
— Mike Coudrey (@MichaelCoudrey) July 29, 2023
“The FBI and the CDC really dropped the ball here in terms of investigating not only this illegal lab, but now we wonder how many more labs like this exist in the country, continued Hinson.
“So clearly, we have some work to do to make sure we’re prepared, because we know China is doing everything they can to constantly undermine us,” she remarked.
Rep. Jim Costa, was eventually able to apply enough pressure to gain the CDC’s cooperation on an investigation.
The CDC reportedly found “at least 20 potentially infectious agents,” but “no evidence of select agents or toxins”.
Lawmakers criticized the CDC for the appearance of a lack of effort.
Rep. McCarthy said, “The CDC and others hung up on them, ignored them, until Congressman Jim Costa called them.”
“But when the CDC showed up they should’ve done what was right then, and they did not,” he continued.
Adding, “They did not test the pathogens. They did not even find all of them. They left a freezer with Ebola in it, and we know how lethal that is…”
The CDC disputes the report’s conclusions and states that they were actively engaged in addressing the issue within their regulatory authorities.
In a statement, the CDC wrote “CDC strongly disputes the report’s conclusions critical of the agency.”
“The report includes numerous inaccuracies, including both the charge that CDC did not respond to local requests for aid and the false implication that CDC had the authority to unilaterally investigate or seize samples from PBI’s Reedley building,” continued the agency.
“Indeed, CDC has, and continues to be actively engaged, within its regulatory authorities, in the intergovernmental efforts to address issues surrounding the facility,” concluded the CDC.
Additionally, there is criticism against President Biden for welcoming Chinese President Xi Jinping to the APEC summit.
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