China says US fentanyl sanctions are ‘smears and suppression’ just days after apparent agreement to work with Washington

This week US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Beijing had agreed to discuss a working group to stem flow of chemicals and equipment used to make drug

But two days later a senior narcotics control official said China was ‘strongly dissatisfied’ with sanctions targeting companies and individuals

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The US believes Chinese chemicals and equipment are used to make fentanyl that is smuggled into the US by Mexican drugs gangs. Photo: Reuters

Published: 8:02pm, 21 Jun 2023

China has voiced its “strong dissatisfaction” against sanctions on companies and individuals accused of helping to fuel the fentanyl crisis in the United States.

The comments came just days after Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the two countries had agreed to explore a working group on stemming the flow of chemicals that can be used to make the drug to Mexico.

Before 2019, China was believed to be the main source of illicit fentanyl entering the US before Beijing imposed stricter export controls at Washington’s request.

Since then, although the final production capacity has largely moved to countries like Mexico, the US has said China remains the main source for key ingredients and has targeted those it accuses of being involved in their supply.

Beijing has always strongly denied involvement and said that it is a “domestic” problem for the US.

On Wednesday, Yu Haibin, deputy head of the National Narcotics Control Commission, told a press conference: “China expresses strong dissatisfaction with the United States’ repeated use of the drug issue as a reason to sanction Chinese businesses and citizens, thereby smearing and suppressing China.”