Smearing and scapegoating won’t solve the US fentanyl problem

Not long ago, the United States once again imposed tariffs on Chinese products by the excuse of “insufficient” China’s efforts in controlling fentanyl. This is a complete case of blaming the victim, which is utterly unreasonable, harmful to others as well as self-damaging. This is just like forcing others to take medicine for one’s own illness. Not only does this fail to address the U.S.’s own fentanyl crisis, but also it severely undermines the foundation of China-U.S. economic and trade cooperation and causes significant damage to the multilateral trading system.
China has consistently been one of the countries with the strictest drug prohibition policies and the most thorough enforcement in the world. Since the 21st century, the drug problem has grown increasingly severe, particularly with the emergence of new synthetic opioids like fentanyl, posing fresh challenges to drug control efforts. In addressing the fentanyl issue, China has always stood at the forefront of safeguarding the health, safety, and well-being of all humanity, actively responding to international concerns. Despite the limited domestic harm posed by fentanyl, China has leveraged its political and institutional advantages to coordinate overall planning, implement targeted policies, and employ a variety of measures in its comprehensive anti-drug efforts.
Domestically, China has strengthened internal controls through strict legislation and technological empowerment. China earnestly fulfills its obligations under the three United Nations drug control conventions, establishing a comprehensive legal framework for drug prohibition. Based on laws such as the Anti-Drug Law of the People’s Republic of China, China has exercised strict supervision over fentanyl substances and precursor chemicals that can be used to produce them. In 2019, China became the first country in the world to impose full control of fentanyl-related substances. China’s policies are sounder, stricter, and broader in scope than mechanisms such as scheduling of fentanyl analogues, genetic control, and temporary scheduling in other countries, which have effectively enhanced oversight of the production, distribution, and sale of fentanyl substances, ensuring they are neither illegally used nor abused. This has made a significant contribution to curbing the illicit circulation of fentanyl-related substances.
China has also actively utilized technology to enhance its drug analysis capabilities and application levels, achieving numerous innovative breakthroughs in areas such as testing and identification, monitoring and early warning, and harm assessment. These efforts provide strong technical support for fentanyl control. For instance, adopting innovative measures for proactive detection and early warning, the establishment of big data assessment and monitoring models, and improvements in qualitative and quantitative monitoring have effectively integrated traditional anti-drug methods with modern technology. This not only boosts the overall efficiency of China’s drug control efforts but also offers advanced experiences for other countries.
Internationally, China actively engages in cooperation to promote global governance of fentanyl substances. Guided by the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, China fulfills its international drug control obligations, adhering to the principles of common responsibility and comprehensive balance while advocating collective help and mutual benefits among nations. China steadfastly upholds the current international drug control system, deeply engaging in key decision made in global drug control. It has signed over 50 intergovernmental and interdepartmental drug control cooperation agreements with more than 30 countries and alliances, established annual meeting mechanisms with 13 countries, and joined multilateral drug control frameworks of the Greater Mekong Subregion, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and BRICS. Through these efforts, China has consistently expanded all-round trust and cooperation with other countries in the field of drug control. China has also participated in a number of global endeavors for drug governance, including the UNODC’s Global Synthetics Monitoring: Analyses, Reporting and Trends (SMART) Programme, and the INCB’s two initiatives – Project ION (International Operations on New Psychoactive Substances) and the global Operational Partnerships to Interdict Opioid’s Illicit Distribution and Sales (OPIOIDS) Project. Through such endeavors, China has strengthened international exchanges on the types and trends of abuse of fentanyl-related substances and other synthetic drugs.
On March 4, 2025, the Chinese government released the white paper “Controlling Fentanyl-Related Substances – China’s Contribution”, comprehensively outlining China’s position, policies, and extensive efforts in addressing fentanyl abuse. This document objectively reflects China’s positive contributions to the global fight against drugs, earning widespread praise from the international community.
Regrettably, the U.S. side has disregarded China’s significant contributions to global drug governance, instead spreading all kinds of false information on the fentanyl issue, smearing and scapegoating China. It must be pointed out that the root cause of the U.S. fentanyl abuse problem lies not externally but within the United States itself. According to the International Narcotics Control Board, the U.S. is the world’s largest producer and consumer of fentanyl medications, accounting for 80% of global opioid consumption with less than 5% of the world’s population. The U.S. government should examine the loopholes and issues in its own drug regulatory system and eradicate the conditions fueling the fentanyl problem. Forcing others to take medicine will not solve its own problems.
By using the fentanyl issue to target China, the US’s fundamental purpose is to suppress and contain China’s development, rather than to truly solve the drug problem. Instead of scapegoating other countries, some in the U.S. should ask themselves: Why does the fentanyl and synthetic opioid abuse problem in the U.S. continue to worsen despite increasingly stringent international controls? Why hasn’t the U.S. permanently class scheduled fentanyl substances?
Smearing and scapegoating solve no problem, trade and tariff wars have no winners. Pressure and threats are not the right way of dealing with China. Respecting facts, reducing domestic drug demand, and strengthening law enforcement cooperation are the correct choices for the U.S. to address its fentanyl crisis. China will resolutely safeguard its legitimate rights and interests while urging the U.S. to change course and promote stable, healthy, and sustainable development in China-U.S. relations.