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US concerned about China’s interest in toxins which can be used for chemical weapons
The Statesman (India) ^ | 11/5/2021

Posted on 11/05/2021 2:17:54 AM PDT by markomalley

The United States is concerned about the People’s Republic of China (PRC’s) interest in pharmaceutical-based agents (PBAs) and toxins because these agents have utility for chemical weapons applications.

Further, based on available information, the United States cannot certify that China has met its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) due to concerns regarding the PRC’s research of pharmaceutical-based agents (PBAs) and toxins with potential dual use applications.

The United States has compliance concerns with respect to PRC military medical institutions’ toxin research and development because of the dual-use applications and their potential as a biological threat.

The PRC has engaged in biological activities with potential dual-use applications, which raise concerns regarding its compliance with the Biological and Toxins Weapons Convention (BWC) and the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), a report by the US Defence Department said.

Studies conducted at PRC military medical institutions discussed identifying, testing, and characterizing diverse families of potent toxins with dual-use applications.

Scientists at a PRC military institute have expressed interest in military applications of PBAs and are engaged in research involving the synthesis, characterization, and testing of PBAs with potential dual-use applications. In addition, available information on studies conducted at PRC military medical institutions indicates that researchers identify, test and characterize diverse families of potent toxins-which raises questions about the intended purposes of the work conducted by the researchers.

Based on available information, the United States cannot certify that the PRC has met its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) due to concerns regarding the PRC’s research of pharmaceutical-based agents (PBAs) and toxins with potential dual-use applications.

The PRC has engaged in biological activities with dual-use applications, which raise concerns regarding its compliance with Article I of the Biological and Toxins Weapons Convention (BWC), to which the PRC became a party in 1984. According to the US Department of State’s April 2021 report “2021 Adherence to and Compliance With Arms Control, Non-proliferation, and Disarmament Agreements and Commitments,” available information shows the PRC engaged in activities that raise concerns with regard to its obligations under Article I of the BWC, which requires States Party “never in any circumstances to develop, produce, stockpile, or otherwise acquire or retain… microbial or other biological agents, or toxins whatever their origin or method of production, of types and in quantities that have no justification for prophylactic, protective, or other peaceful purposes,” as well as “weapons, equipment or means of delivery designed to use such agents or toxins for hostile purposes or in armed conflict.”

In addition, the US does not have sufficient information to determine whether the PRC eliminated its assessed historical biological warfare (BW) program, as required under Article II of the Convention.

The United States assesses that the PRC possessed an offensive biological warfare program from 1950s to at least the late 1980s. Although the PRC has submitted BWC Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) each year since 1989, the PRC’s CBM reporting has never otherwise disclosed it ever pursued an offensive BW program, and the PRC has never acknowledged publicly or in diplomatic channels its past offensive program.

As part of its historical BW program, the PRC had probably weaponized ricin, botulinum toxins, and the causative agents of anthrax, cholera, plague, and tularemia.

The PRC continues to develop its biotechnology infrastructure and pursue scientific cooperation with countries of concern. Available information on studies conducted at PRC military medical institutions has included information that discusses identifying, testing and characterizing diverse families of potent toxins with dual-use applications.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS:
While none of the information is truly novel, I find it interesting that NOTHING about this is being discussed in the US media.
1 posted on 11/05/2021 2:17:54 AM PDT by markomalley
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To: markomalley

Fentanyl?


2 posted on 11/05/2021 2:23:39 AM PDT by Libloather (Why do climate change hoax deniers live in mansions on the beach?)
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To: markomalley

The left seems to think they would somehow survive an NBC attack.


3 posted on 11/05/2021 2:45:50 AM PDT by exnavy (grow some thick skin, i do not care for whiners)
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To: markomalley
Fools in DC and the willing dupes in the media:

Answer: "No" The program is probably alive and well. It may even be funded by an agency of the U.S. government. /s

4 posted on 11/05/2021 3:45:14 AM PDT by ptsal (Vote R.E.D. >>>Remove Every Democrat ***)
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To: markomalley
The United States is concerned about the People’s Republic of China (PRC’s) interest in pharmaceutical-based agents (PBAs) and toxins.
But apparently much less interested in the CCP's (not the PRC) use of genetic agents for making bio-weapons ; with the apparent success of the Wuhan flu in driving Government power and control, while also supplying data to the CCP on Western responses, the flu holds no interest for the US Government as a major threat.

The US spends $212 million on Precision Medicine, while the CCP spends $9.5 billion. Obviously, genetic weapons do not carry as much interest as chemical based weapons for the US Government.

When one sees the use of PRC in a story instead of CCP to represent Mainland Chinese government, you see an attempt to blame the entire Chinese people, while minimizing the Communist totalitarian politics of the governing rulers. This makes the story suspect on at least one level.

5 posted on 11/05/2021 3:48:59 AM PDT by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now its your turn)
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To: markomalley

Too little too late


6 posted on 11/05/2021 5:01:26 AM PDT by dkGba
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To: markomalley

China was highly successful taking down the USA with one bio-weapon - COVID.


7 posted on 11/05/2021 5:06:21 AM PDT by elpadre ( ying them.)
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To: elpadre

Since the majority of drugs we use come in from china imagine the deaths if they decided to poison them all.


8 posted on 11/05/2021 6:51:24 AM PDT by oldasrocks
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To: elpadre

“China was highly successful taking down the USA with one bio-weapon - COVID.”

No, our politicians, oligarchs and bureaucrats took us down with glee.


9 posted on 11/05/2021 7:52:14 AM PDT by dljordan (Slouching towards Woketopia)
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To: dljordan

“No, our politicians, oligarchs and bureaucrats took us down with glee.”

Yes, but it originated in the Wuhan labs and deliberately spread by the Chinese.


10 posted on 11/05/2021 8:39:56 AM PDT by elpadre ( ying them.)
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