China's Fentanyl Accusations: A Double-Edged Sword

As the U.S. grapples with the devastating fentanyl crisis, China has accused the Trump administration of disregarding its help in addressing the issue. The accusations, made by Chinese officials, suggest that the U.S. has not acknowledged or appreciated China's efforts to control the flow of fentanyl precursors into the United States. However, a closer examination of the situation reveals a more complex picture, with both countries bearing responsibility for the ongoing crisis.

The U.S. government has acknowledged the severity of the fentanyl crisis, with Dr. Vanda Felbab-Brown, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, stating that fentanyl is killing more Americans between the ages of 18 and 49 than any other public health issue. The U.S. has adopted a whole-of-government approach to tackle the crisis, which involves various agencies and departments working together to address the issue. This approach is a step in the right direction, but it must be expanded to include organized crime groups that bring in fentanyl and are often involved in other illegal economies.

China has taken several specific actions to address the fentanyl crisis and reduce the flow of fentanyl into the United States. These measures include strengthening control over fentanyl and its precursors, launching a special campaign targeting online advertising related to fentanyl-like substances and their precursors, resuming technical exchanges with the U.S., strengthening export control policies, and supporting substance scheduling requests made by the U.S. at the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs. These measures have been effective in reducing the flow of fentanyl into the United States, as evidenced by the U.S. counterparts' repeated indication that they have not seized any fentanyl-related substances originating from China since China placed the entire class of fentanyl substances under control in May 2019.

However, China's accusations against the U.S. are not without merit. The U.S. has been slow to acknowledge and appreciate China's efforts in controlling the flow of fentanyl precursors. In 2019, U.S. accusations led to a breakdown in cooperation between the two countries, which only resumed in 2021 after the U.S.-China summit in San Francisco. This delay in cooperation has likely contributed to the ongoing fentanyl crisis in the United States.

In conclusion, the fentanyl crisis is a complex issue that requires cooperation and mutual respect between the United States and China. While both countries have taken steps to address the crisis, there is still much work to be done. The U.S. must acknowledge and appreciate China's efforts in controlling the flow of fentanyl precursors, while China must continue to strengthen its measures to address the issue. Only through continued cooperation and mutual respect can the two countries hope to effectively tackle the fentanyl crisis and save lives.