Screenshot of the website of Consulate-General of the People's Republic of China in Chicago

The Chinese Consulate in Chicago told the Global Times it has taken note of the US authorities' arrest and prosecution of a second Chinese scholar who was planning to carry out a research project at the University of Michigan on suspicion of smuggling biological materials into the US.

When answering a question raised by the Global Times, a consulate spokesperson said, "We immediately took measures to deal with this case after learning about the relevant information. We have already stated China's position on such cases, which is very clear."

On June 7, in response to a media query regarding accusations that Chinese students had smuggled a dangerous fungus into the US, the spokesperson of the Chinese Consulate-General in Chicago said in a statement that "We saw the news from US media reports and are working on learning about the case through relevant channels. The Chinese Consulate General in Chicago has lodged a solemn démarche with the US side on its law enforcement's failure to fulfill the relevant obligations stipulated in the China-US Consular Convention."

The spokesperson said that the Chinese government has always required Chinese nationals overseas to strictly observe local laws and regulations, including Entry and Exit regulations, while resolutely protecting their legitimate and lawful rights and interests in accordance with the law. 

China firmly opposes the US side making political manipulations on related cases under the pretext of ideology and overstretched national security, said the spokesperson on Saturday. 

When responding to the case of US accusations against two Chinese students on suspicion of smuggling a toxic fungus into the US, that they planned to research at an American university, Lin Jian, spokesperson from China's Foreign Ministry said "I am not familiar with that."

Lin said the Chinese government always asks Chinese nationals overseas to strictly observe local laws and regulations, and protects their legitimate and lawful rights and interests in accordance with the law.