A Chinese biotech machine linked to the Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI), a company with ties to the Chinese military, has been discovered at the highly classified Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, according to the House Oversight Committee. This revelation has prompted concerns, as Los Alamos is one of the U.S.’s most sensitive research facilities, known for developing the atomic bomb under the Manhattan Project.
BGI, identified by the Pentagon as a “Chinese military company” and “China’s Biotech National Champion,” operates one of the world’s largest gene databases. The presence of BGI technology at Los Alamos comes amid growing scrutiny over foreign influence in critical U.S. infrastructure. In response, the House recently passed the BIOSECURE Act, which aims to ban the use of U.S. taxpayer dollars to fund biotech companies controlled by foreign adversaries, including China. The bill is now under review by the Senate Homeland Security Committee.
BGI’s involvement in genetic data collection has raised alarms internationally. The company has been accused of aiding the Chinese government in surveillance activities and gathering sensitive genetic information. In 2021, a report revealed BGI’s development of a genetic test in collaboration with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), raising concerns about the potential misuse of personal data.
The House Oversight Committee has not yet announced whether it will investigate the use of the BGI machine at Los Alamos. The Senate’s timeline for action on the BIOSECURE Act remains unclear.
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