The Chinese military is researching sea-based neurotoxins. Is this research truly innocent, or is China working on a deadly bioweapon?

From The Washington Times. China’s military is conducting research on sea-based neurotoxins, raising fears among U.S. officials and analysts that Beijing is secretly developing deadly biological weapons for use in conflict.

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The U.S. government aired concerns about marine toxin research for the first time this month in the annual State Department arms control compliance report.

The report said China “continued to engage in biological activities with potential [biological weapons] applications, including possible development of toxins for military purposes.” That raised concerns about Beijing’s compliance with the Biological Weapons Convention, which went into effect in 1975 and was ratified by China in 1984. …

The disclosure of work on marine toxins is the first time Beijing has been accused of conducting that type of strategic weapons research.

“The PLA’s research organizations have been conducting and directing military research related to dual-use marine toxins,” the report said.

The State Department said China’s regular reports to other signatories of the Biological Weapons Convention and Beijing’s “confidence-building measures” failed to include information about the military marine toxin research.

Naturally occurring marine toxins are among the world’s most potent poisons. They attack the central nervous system and can be lethal in tiny amounts.

Civilian research in China has focused on preventing marine toxin poisoning from seafood and shellfish. U.S. intelligence suspects the People’s Liberation Army is using the research for weapons development. The report did not identify the specific marine toxins that PLA research institutes are examining. …

Compliance questions

A State Department official told The Washington Times that the United States believes China is conducting activities with potential biological weapons applications that raise concerns over compliance with the Biological Weapons Convention.

Although China signed on to the convention in 1984, it has never fully disclosed details regarding its past weapons programs as required, the report said.

China halted talks with the United States on chemical and biological weapons after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which began in Wuhan, China, in late 2019. …

The State Department official said the United States is continuing work with partners to address questionable Chinese chemical and biological activities. The goal is to raise awareness of the threat and build diplomatic pressure on Beijing to provide answers, the official said. …

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(Excerpt from The Washington Times. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons)