A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers has urged the Biden administration to consider restricting biotechnology exports to China’s military, citing concerns over potential weaponization to create toxic pathogens. In a letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, lawmakers, led by Republican China Select Committee Chairman John Moolenaar and Democrat Raja Krishnamoorthi, called for licensing restrictions on U.S. pharmaceutical companies collaborating with Chinese military-owned medical entities.
The letter, reported by Reuters, highlights the national security risks of U.S.-China biotech competition, emphasizing the potential threat to healthcare advancements and American medical data security. Chinese Embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu dismissed the claims as "malicious speculation," reiterating Beijing’s opposition to biological weapons.
Concerns about China’s biotechnology activities have grown among U.S. officials. In August, lawmakers, including Democrat Anna Eshoo, urged the FDA to increase scrutiny of U.S. clinical trials in China, citing risks of intellectual property theft and forced participation of Uyghurs in Xinjiang. U.S. pharmaceutical companies have reportedly collaborated with Chinese military-run hospitals on hundreds of clinical trials in the past decade.
In a January response, FDA Acting Associate Commissioner Laura Paulos assured lawmakers of strict protections for trial participants, stating that legally effective, informed consent is required. On intellectual property theft concerns, she deferred the matter to other federal agencies.
Commerce Secretary Raimondo’s upcoming departure could limit immediate action on new controls. However, the letter underscores growing bipartisan concern over China’s role in biotechnology and its implications for global security.
This development reflects broader efforts to address the strategic challenges posed by China across various industries, including biotechnology and healthcare.