In early October 2026, China’s Ministry of State Security issued an official warning about escalating security threats and biological hazards, pointing to the infiltration of foreign organizations into ecologically sensitive areas of the PRC under the guise of scientific research and tourism.
According to the ministry’s statement, the ultimate goal of such activity is the collection and possible theft of genetic resources. At the same time, it is carried out without the necessary permits from the national and customs authorities, and it spans a wide range of formats – from academic exchanges and joint research to tourist and field trips used to illegally gather genetic, environmental, and geographic data, including blood, soil, plant, and water samples.
In a message posted on the ministry’s official account, the dismantling of a transnational network for smuggling biological materials that operated through 23 provinces of China was separately noted. According to the available data, the network was collecting blood samples from pregnant women and illegally taking them abroad under the pretext of medical testing. In Beijing’s assessment, such actions pose a threat to the country’s competitive advantages in the field of genetic patents and to the integrity of the human genome, and may also be viewed as a potential risk of misuse in the development of biological weapons.
The warning also covers the illegal import and export of exotic animals, plants, and seeds capable of harming ecosystems, agriculture, and public health; individuals and foreign travelers are advised to exercise caution when transporting biological materials, pets, and medical samples across borders, to obtain prior permits, to follow quarantine procedures, and to report suspicious movements of biological materials.