Colonel Dai Xu. (Internet photo)

Dai Xu, a senior PLA Air Force colonel, has accused the United States of biological warfare by releasing the H7N9 bird flu into China, reports Guangzhou's Southern Metropolis Daily.

The military strategist is known for his outspoken views as a commentator for the state-run Global Times. He previously called for all-out war between China and the US in August last year over America's support for Japan in the territorial dispute over islands in the East China Sea.

Dai unveiled his theory of a US conspiracy to undermine China through the release of a new strain of bird flu in a Sina Weibo post on Saturday. He claims H7N9, which has so far resulted in seven deaths from 24 diagnosed cases, is in fact a biological weapon designed by the United States, similar the SARS virus which he also accused the US of unleashing upon the country in 2003.

In an earlier version of the post, Dai said, "a few may die, but that not even one-thousandth of the deaths from car accidents in China." The comment has since been deleted after outraging internet users for belittling the deaths from the virus.

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Dai Xu　　 戴旭