fentanyl

As the US further escalates tariff hikes against China,mk US Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent pointed to the fentanyl issue again to pressure China, which is seen by Chinese observers as a scapegoating trick to shift public blame over the US' own drug control failures toward China.  

In an interview with Fox Business, Bessent claimed China will be the "loser" and the trade war is much worse on the Chinese end. He additionally pressured China to take measures to stop the flow of fentanyl into the US, Fox Business reported Wednesday.   

The US is repeating its petty trick of blaming its domestic sickness on external factors and unreasonably shifting responsibility for drug control to China, Li Haidong, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Thursday. 

China has exercised strict supervision over fentanyl-related medications, rigorously prevented the abuse of fentanyl-related substances, and struck hard against the smuggling, manufacturing, and trafficking of fentanyl-related substances and related precursor chemicals, according to a white paper issued by China's State Council Information Office on March 4.  

China announced full control of fentanyl-related substances as early as 2019, making it the first country in the world to do so, per the white paper. 

"China has achieved notable successes in in-depth cooperation with countries concerned, including the US, in addressing problems with fentanyl-related substances and their precursors," the white paper states.

Bessent also posted on X on Wednesday that the US Department of the Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) published a first-of-its-kind report on fentanyl. He also cited the so-called analysis, attributing the American domestic crisis to China and Mexico. 

Chinese Embassy to the US has previously stated in a fact sheet in 2023 over the issue that uncontrolled chemicals and equipment have an array of legal usages, and can be produced, traded and used by any company without reporting to the government. International practices require the importing company and country to ensure that imported goods are not used for illegal purposes, not the exporter.

Li said the US hype of fentanyl issue aims to erase China's efforts and achievements in this regard and justify the US' demonizing of China.  

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on March 4 that the US is spreading all kinds of false information on the fentanyl issue, smearing and scapegoating China, and hiking tariffs on Chinese imports because of fentanyl. 

Such a move is unjustified and will do no one any good. China's position is clear-cut. We stand ready for practical cooperation with the US based on equality and mutual respect. That said, we firmly oppose the US pressuring, threatening and blackmailing China under the pretext of the fentanyl issue. We urge the US to respect facts, keep its own interest in mind and make the right choice, the spokesperson said.