China's DNA Harvesting Concerns at 2022 Winter Olympics

Strategic Insights -

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) has warned that China could collect the DNA of U.S. athletes participating in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, potentially under the guise of testing for illegal drugs or COVID-19. Cotton has urged the Biden administration to ensure the safety, security, and privacy of American athletes, and has suggested that the U.S. should boycott the Beijing Olympics unless China assures protections for the athletes. This warning comes as China is suspected of using DNA data to research the creation of "super soldiers," and has been accused of collecting genetic samples of athletes at previous international events.

Key Takeaways:

  • Sen. Tom Cotton has warned that China may collect the DNA of U.S. athletes participating in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, potentially under the guise of testing for illegal drugs or COVID-19.
  • The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) reportedly considers DNA collection as a "vital intelligence-gathering objective" and has developed biologically-enhanced soldiers using DNA data.
  • Cotton has asked the Biden administration to ensure protections for American athletes and has suggested that the U.S. should boycott the Beijing Olympics unless China assures protections for the athletes.
  • The CCP is accused of operating the world's most invasive domestic surveillance system, including facial-recognition cameras and other advanced sensors.
  • Members of the American delegation should expect their rooms in the Chinese Olympic village to be bugged with audio or visual surveillance equipment and all their onshore electronic devices to be hacked by Chinese authorities.
  • Sen. Cotton has pointed out that the State Department has already issued a Level 3 travel advisory on China due to the Chinese government's use of arbitrary detention and exit bans.
  • Cotton has also raised concerns over the possible detention of Americans and other Western visitors to China who may be used as political bargaining chips.

Statistics:

  • Over 6,000 athletes are expected to participate in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing (Source: https://www.olympic.org/beijing-2022-olympic-winter-games)
  • China has reportedly conducted tests to develop biologically-enhanced soldiers with the intent of using DNA data as a way to catapult Chinese biotechnology companies to global market dominance (Source: https://www.ibtimes.com/china-could-be-developing-super-soldiers-marvels-captain-america-us-intel-reveals-3094335)
  • The CCP operates over 200 million surveillance cameras in China, including facial-recognition cameras and other advanced sensors (Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/21/china-unveils-asiyas-largest-surveillance-camera-network-in-jiangxi-province)
  • The State Department has issued a Level 3 travel advisory on China, urging Americans to reconsider travel to the country due to the Chinese government's use of arbitrary detention and exit bans (Source: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/before-you-go/travel-advisories/travel-advisory-china.html)

Sources:

  • https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/558648-cotton-warns-of-china-collecting-athletes-dna-at-2022-olympics
  • https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/17/business/media/coronavirus-tom-cotton-china.html
  • https://www.scribd.com/document/511861874/Tom-Cotton-Winter-Olympics-Letter?secret_password=Lnuwc5Aou2JwNdtEqES1
  • https://www.ibtimes.com/china-could-be-developing-super-soldiers-marvels-captain-america-us-intel-reveals-3094335
  • https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/21/china-unveils-asiyas-largest-surveillance-camera-network-in-jiangxi-province
  • https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/before-you-go/travel-advisories/travel-advisory-china.html
  • https://www.olympic.org/beijing-2022-olympic-winter-games