Chinese virologist Dr Li-Meng Yan, who became globally known for claiming that the coronavirus was engineered in a Wuhan laboratory, has told US media that she now fears Beijing is attempting to use her family to lure her back to China and carry out what she describes as a “perfect crime”. Yan has been living in the United States since 2020, saying she fled to escape retaliation for her whistleblower claims.

A rift that began during the early days of Covid-19

Yan, who worked at a prestigious lab at the University of Hong Kong, said she became convinced in early 2020 that authorities were hiding crucial information about Covid-19, including human-to-human transmission. She later alleged that the virus had been developed in a Wuhan lab — a claim rejected by most scientific bodies but amplified by global political groups.

Her statements reportedly created deep tensions within her family, including with her husband, virologist Dr Ranawaka Perera. Yan fled to the US with assistance from conservative organisations linked to Steve Bannon and exiled billionaire Guo Wengui, who helped secure meetings with senior Trump advisers.

‘A perfect crime’: Yan accuses China of targeting her through relatives

Speaking to the New York Times, Yan said she believes the Chinese government is using her parents and husband as tools to pressure her into returning.

“For over five years, the CCP has used my parents and Mahen as tools to lure me back, attempting to carry out a ‘perfect crime’ to erase the truth about the virus,” she alleged.

US prosecutors have previously filed charges against Chinese police officials for attempting to intimidate Yan and others through transnational harassment operations.

Earlier this year, Yan also received a Google alert warning that her account had been targeted in a likely state-sponsored hacking attempt.

Her husband’s plea: ‘I just want to know she is safe’

Dr Perera, now employed at the University of Pennsylvania, told the NYT that he has spent years trying to contact Yan. He denies that she fled willingly, arguing that she was influenced by online personalities critical of Beijing.

Perera insists he only wants one final conversation:
“If she’s safe and doesn’t want to be with me, I can move on. But not until I know exactly what happened. She is the person I love the most.”

Yan, however, has said she will maintain no contact with her family for her own safety.