A new age of Covid bioweapons could soon engulf the US, a new study sponsored by the Office of Secretary of Defense has warned.
Military strategists from Rand Corporation suggested a "coronavirus bioweapon" may lurk on the horizon.
The report, titled "Plagues, Cyborgs, and Supersoldiers: The Human Domain of War Research", assesses how CRISPR gene-editing technology, mRNA vaccines, brain networking, and other technological advancements could impact military conflict.
"We see a complex, high-threat landscape emerging where future wars are fought with humans controlling hyper-sophisticated machines with their thoughts," the report released earlier this month said.
China enforced strict Covid restrictions
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It also argued that "synthetically generated, genomically targeted plagues” that cripple the American military-industrial base".
In a section discussing human genomic editing, researchers assessed the potential for creating "supersoldiers" through genetic modifications.
The modifications enhance physical and psychological capabilities.
It also sought to analyse the differences between Beijing and Washington in capitalising on biotechnology and brain technology.
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There were protests in the US about Covid and the number of people fully vaccinated stood at around 70 per cent
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Chinese research into "ethnic-specific genetic weapons" and "purported brain-control weaponry" has previously been conducted.
However, the report also explored cultural differences between the US and China.
The US is considered open, diverse and democratic.
China is meanwhile hopeful it can utilise its position as an authoritarian state.
This could enable Beijing to deploy vaccines swiftly as its population is somewhat more compliant.
China witnessed protests but broadly witnessed a high level of Covid compliance
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China could also brutally suppress "anti-vaccine populists" and enforce compliance.
However, people across China took to the streets in late 2022 to protest against Xi Jinping’s draconian Covid-19 restrictions.
Crackdowns and vaccinations could be more difficult to roll out in the US due to America’s more relaxed regulatory environment and consideration for individual liberties.
Despite such an assessment, 81 per cent of Americans received at least one dose of the Covid vaccine.
The proportion which is fully vaccinated reportedly stands at 70 per cent.