China says foreign intelligence services are trying to obtain genetic data on soybeans, corn and rice

China’s Ministry of State Security warned on Monday that foreign intelligence services are stepping up efforts to “illegally obtain” genetic data and seed resources in the country’s grain sector, Reuters reported.

“In recent years, foreign intelligence services have intensified their infiltration of China’s grain sector, illegally obtaining genetic data for crops such as soybeans, corn and rice, posing a serious threat to the country’s food security,” the ministry said in a statement.

According to Trivium China director Evan Rogers Pei, “Beijing has long viewed food security as a national security issue, much like energy security is often viewed through the lens of national security in Washington.”

“Such MSS posts are aimed at creating public suspicion and encouraging skepticism about foreign interests in agriculture and food,” he said.

The ministry cited an example in which a Chinese businessman surnamed Zhu sold restricted “parental seeds” — first-generation seeds used in hybridization experiments and not allowed for export — to a foreign party under a “joint seed cooperation” scheme. The ministry said Zhu hid the seeds in containers declared for other export shipments.

Zhu was sentenced to 18 months in prison, and 17 other people involved in the case received administrative penalties.

In another case, foreign consular officers and experts from “a certain country” allegedly conducted unauthorized field surveys in a large agricultural province, collecting data on crop yields and stocks.

According to the ministry, they used methods to counter surveillance, including frequently changing vehicles and traveling on rural roads to avoid detection.

The ministry said action had been taken in both cases and urged the public to report any suspicious activity through official hotlines or online channels.

Tags: corn, rice, soybean, seeds, China