Lack of information on China super soldier experimentation ‘disturbing’: Ex-intelligence official

An ex-intelligence official said late Thursday that China’s military leaders are experimenting with creating a “super soldier,” calling the lack of information “disturbing.”

“Other nations have explored in this area over decades. So it’s not the newest thing in the world, but the more disturbing part [is] we don’t know exactly how much effort they’re putting in towards it,” Nicholas Eftimiades, a former senior intelligence officer in the Defense Intelligence Agency, said during an appearance on NewsNation’s “Elizabeth Vargas Reports.”

“We don’t know any of the accomplishments they’ve had towards it. We do know, which is disturbing, is that it’s under the People’s Liberation Army.”

Eftimiades said Beijing’s research is “promising,” but noted that little is known about gene splicing or personality altering efforts. 

“They’ve been exploring this concept for a while. Can they modify human behavior, human physiology, to create, if you will, a more superior individual, physically as well as mentally?” he asked.

The remarks comes as China works to shore up military installments in Africa and elsewhere around the world amid a tense trade relationship with the United States and blossoming alliance with Russia. 

However, Chinese Embassy Spokesperson Liu Pengyu said he was “unaware” of the “super soldiers” reports.

“China’s development strengthens the world’s forces for peace. No matter what stage of development it reaches, China will never seek hegemony or engage in expansionism,” he said in a statement to The Hill.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem earlier this week warned that China has capabilities to shut off U.S. water and electricity grids during remarks at the inaugural Hill Nation summit. 

“Next time we detect a cyberhack from China, we kick some of their state-owned enterprises, multibillion-dollar state-owned enterprises, off the stock exchange and say, ‘You know what, no more investment from the United States period,’” Eftimiades said.

“And we coordinate that with our allies as well. So there is some cost to China, because as of right now, there’s not.”

Updated at 7:19 p.m. EDT.