CHINA-DENMARK: CHINESE PROFESSOR LINKED TO PLA CONDUCTED RESEARCH ON EFFECTS OF HIGH-ALTITUDE ON MONKEY'S BRAINS TO DEVELOP DRUGS FOR SOLDIERS IN TIBET
|
Reuters reported (November 18) that Guojie Zhang, a Chinese professor at the University of Copenhagen conducted genetic research with the Chinese military without disclosing the connection. Guojie Zhang, is also employed by Shenzhen-based genomics giant BGI Group, which funds dozens of researchers at the university and has its European headquarters on the university campus. Guojie Zhang and a student he was supervising worked with a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) laboratory on research exposing monkeys to extreme altitude to study their brains and develop new drugs to prevent brain damage—a priority the PLA has identified for Chinese troops operating on high plateau borders. He hhad co-published that paper with a PLA major general in January 2020. BGI said the study with the PLA lab “was not carried out for military purposes” and brain research is a critical area for understanding human diseases. Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) said the study had national defense and civilian benefits on the Tibetan plateau.
|