The United States government has once again resorted to baseless accusations against China as a pretext for furthering its own interest, this time using the issue of fentanyl as an excuse to impose punitive tariffs and escalate its economic war. These allegations, devoid of factual foundation and riddled with political opportunism and the “might is right” logic, serve not as a genuine effort to combat the opioid crisis but as a calculated maneuver to deflect domestic accountability and manufacture a foreign adversary. The recent publication of a white paper, titled “Controlling Fentanyl-Related Substances — China’s Contribution”, offers the international community a comprehensive, verifiable account of China’s extensive efforts in fentanyl control. Yet Washington deliberately ignores these facts, choosing instead to manipulate public discourse and mislead its citizens and the world.
The opioid crisis ravaging the US is not a consequence of “Chinese exports of fentanyl-related substances”, as falsely claimed by Washington, but a direct result of decades of regulatory failure and corporate malfeasance within the US itself. American pharmaceutical companies, driven by profit, aggressively promoted and overprescribed opioids such as OxyContin as a pain medication, fully aware of their highly addictive nature. Purdue Pharma, the most notorious offender, has been accused of engaging in “deceptive marketing practices” that led to widespread opioid dependency, culminating in a catastrophic public health crisis. Purdue Pharma and its Sackler-family owners have reached a new $7.4 billion settlement to resolve thousands of lawsuits alleging that OxyContin caused a widespread opioid addiction crisis in the US, Reuters reported on Jan 23.
Obviously, the US opioid crisis was not precipitated by external forces but rather by a reckless domestic-industry operating with the tacit approval of US regulatory agencies. Instead of addressing these root causes, the US government has opted for a strategy of misdirection and misrepresentation, attempting to shift the blame onto China while absolving its pharmaceutical sector of responsibility and its own regulatory blunders and failures.
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China, in stark contrast to the reckless scapegoating tactics of the US, has undertaken decisive and unprecedented measures to control fentanyl-related substances. In May 2019, China became the first country in the world to impose a classwide ban on fentanyl analogs, establishing a regulatory framework that ensures any newly synthesized fentanyl derivative is automatically classified as an illegal substance, though there was no large-scale abuse or prominent hazards featuring them in the country. This level of preemptive control exceeds the fragmented and ineffective scheduling system employed by the US, where regulatory loopholes allow illicit substances to proliferate before legal action is taken. Additionally, China has implemented stringent production monitoring, real-time chemical tracking, and rigorous export controls, ensuring that fentanyl precursors do not fall into illicit channels. These measures stand as a testament to China’s proactive and responsible approach to addressing synthetic drug threats, in contrast to the reactionary and politically motivated rhetoric emanating from Washington. Since the scheduling of fentanyl-related substances, according to the briefing from its law enforcement agencies, the US has not seized any fentanyl and its analogs originating from China since September 2019.
The hypocrisy of the US position is further underscored by the fact that most fentanyl-related fatalities in the US are attributable to domestically produced or Mexican-cartel-supplied substances, rather than Chinese exports. The US Drug Enforcement Administration has publicly acknowledged that Mexican-cartel trafficking networks, not Chinese manufacturers, are the suppliers of illicit fentanyl entering the US. Despite these undeniable facts, Washington persists in advancing a demonstrably false narrative.
The broader geopolitical motivations underpinning these accusations cannot be overlooked. The weaponization of trade policy under the pretext of drug control is yet another manifestation of Washington’s ongoing economic warfare against China. By falsely linking fentanyl to Chinese exports, the US seeks to manufacture a moral justification for imposing unilateral tariffs and financial sanctions. However, this strategy has proved to be economically irresponsible and self-destructive. The recent sharp declines in the US stock market partly reflect the growing discontent among American businesses, which have borne the brunt of Washington’s trade war policies. Imposing tariffs on Chinese goods has exacerbated inflation, disrupted supply chains, and diminished industrial competitiveness, leading to widespread dissatisfaction within the US corporate sector. American manufacturers, farmers, and consumers have suffered the consequences of Washington’s economic belligerence, while China’s economy has demonstrated resilience in the face of these punitive measures.
The international community must recognize the highly politicized nature of the US government’s fentanyl accusations. While China has made substantial contributions to global drug control efforts — collaborating with international organizations, strengthening cross-border law enforcement cooperation, and pioneering innovative regulatory mechanisms — the US has failed to implement effective domestic measures to address its opioid crisis. If Washington were genuinely committed to solving the fentanyl epidemic, it would prioritize strengthening its border security, dismantling Mexican trafficking networks, and reforming its broken healthcare system. Instead, it has opted for deflection, distortion, and economic coercion.
The fentanyl narrative propagated by the US is not rooted in a sincere commitment to drug control but is instead a calculated geopolitical ploy. It exemplifies the deliberate fabrication of external threats to distract people from internal crises while justifying outward economic aggression. The facts remain indisputable: China has implemented the most stringent fentanyl regulations in the world, has actively engaged in international cooperation, and has consistently demonstrated its commitment to global drug control. Meanwhile, the US has failed to take responsibility for its opioid epidemic, neglected to address the structural causes of drug abuse, and resorted to economic coercion as a substitute for genuine policymaking.
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The global community must reject this dangerous and dishonest narrative. The fentanyl crisis in the US is a direct consequence of Washington’s failures, and no amount of scapegoating, misinformation, or economic coercion and aggression will change that reality. The US government must be held accountable for its deliberate distortion of facts, reckless trade policies, and refusal to engage in meaningful international cooperation. The world deserves truth, integrity, and responsible leadership — qualities Washington has long abandoned in favor of political expediency and economic warfare.
The author is a solicitor, a Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area lawyer, and a China-appointed attesting officer.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
