Podcast Summary
China's role in controlling fentanyl supply: China agreed to regulate key chemicals used in fentanyl production, a significant step forward in addressing the U.S.'s fentanyl supply issue.
The U.S. is facing a record number of overdose deaths, with fentanyl being a major contributor. This synthetic opioid, which is incredibly potent, is often illegally produced in China and smuggled into the U.S. The U.S. has been trying to control the demand for fentanyl but needs China's cooperation to address the supply issue. Last week, China agreed to regulate key chemicals used in the production of fentanyl, marking a significant step forward in the fight against this crisis. Despite the legal use of fentanyl in hospitals for pain relief, its illegal market is fueling the increase in overdoses, with fentanyl often being mixed with other substances like cocaine due to its potency and lower cost.
Fentanyl diplomacy: Fentanyl diplomacy refers to efforts by the US to engage China in stopping the flow of fentanyl from China to the US, which began around 2015 due to China's role as a significant supplier. Despite multiple attempts, the issue has continued to worsen.
The issue of fentanyl deaths in the United States, which began to rise around 2015, led to increased attention on where these drugs were coming from. It was discovered that China was a significant supplier, with manufacturers producing fentanyl and sending it to Mexico for smuggling into the US. This led to the beginning of "fentanyl diplomacy" between the US and China. When the US learned of this, they attempted to engage China to stop the flow of fentanyl, but China showed little incentive to help. A notable incident occurred when six Chinese customs agents fell ill, including one who went into a coma, after handling a shipment of fentanyl. Despite multiple administrations, the issue of fentanyl production from China has continued to worsen. The US response was initially focused on engaging China to stop the flow, but with limited success. This is just one example of how the opioid crisis in the US has led to diplomatic tensions with China.
China's approach to fentanyl: China's strict drug laws and historical experience with drug addiction have kept it from having a domestic fentanyl crisis, but it remains the world's largest exporter of the drug. China agreed to restrict all variants of fentanyl in response to U.S. pressure, leading to a significant decrease in sales to Mexico and the U.S.
China's approach to the fentanyl crisis differs significantly from the United States due to China's historical experience with drug addiction and its strict drug laws. Although China exports most of the world's fentanyl, it doesn't have a domestic crisis like the U.S. China's leaders understand the dangers of drugs based on their history, including the opium wars. The punishments for drug dealing are severe in China. During a meeting between Trump and Xi Jinping in 2018, the U.S. requested China to stop exporting fentanyl. In response, China agreed to restrict all variants of fentanyl to appease the U.S. and avoid trade tensions. As a result, sales of fentanyl from Chinese companies to Mexico and the U.S. fell to zero. Despite these actions, the U.S. remains frustrated with China's handling of the issue due to the belief that China hasn't prioritized it enough.
US-China cooperation on fentanyl precursors: China's lack of restriction on fentanyl precursors led to a significant increase in US fentanyl overdose deaths, but tensions between the US and China over political issues hindered cooperation to address the issue
The issue of controlling the production and flow of fentanyl and its precursors is a complex challenge for international cooperation, as seen in the relationship between the US and China. China had taken steps to restrict fentanyl itself but not its precursors, which were mainly being used to produce fentanyl in Mexico and smuggled into the US. The Biden administration identified this as a priority for working with China, but tensions escalated when Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in 2022, leading China to cut off counter-narcotics cooperation with the US. This was a significant setback, as 75,000 overdose deaths in the US in 2022 were caused by fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. The urgency to address this issue remains high, but the lack of communication between the US and China is a major obstacle.
China-US relations, sanctions: The U.S. and China's relationship faced a setback due to U.S. sanctions on a Chinese forensics institute, but leaders eventually agreed to restart cooperation through a working group after months of negotiations.
The U.S. and China's relationship hit a roadblock due to sanctions imposed by the U.S. on a Chinese police forensics institute over human rights abuses against Uyghurs. China demanded the sanctions be lifted as a precondition to resume cooperation on countering drug trafficking, leaving the Biden administration in a difficult position. After months of negotiations, the leaders finally met in November 2022, and agreed to restart cooperation through a working group. This was seen as a small step towards resolving larger issues, but the U.S. felt it was necessary to get China back to the table and engage in good faith discussions.
US-China fentanyl precursor issue: The US dropped sanctions on Xinjiang to address the issue of precursor chemicals for fentanyl production flowing from China, leading China to take action and agree to impose tighter restrictions. US prioritizes domestic concerns over global human rights issues.
The US and China have taken steps to address the issue of precursor chemicals for fentanyl production flowing from China to the Western Hemisphere. The US dropped sanctions on Xinjiang to prioritize this issue, leading China to take action such as shutting down companies and making arrests. China has also agreed to impose tighter restrictions on precursor production and sale in September. This is an important step in the US fentanyl crisis, but more action is needed, such as strict "know your customer" regulations. Overall, this shows the US prioritizing its domestic concerns over global human rights issues.
US-China relations, criminal activities: China's stance on addressing criminal activities linked to Mexican cartels is influenced by its relationship with the US, and it may use this issue as a diplomatic lever during challenges in their relationship.
China's commitment to addressing criminal activities, such as those linked to Mexican cartels, is contingent on the stability and perceived benefit of its relationship with the United States. China has demonstrated its willingness to use this issue as a diplomatic lever in the past, as seen when Representative Pelosi visited Taiwan. The next time the US-China relationship faces challenges, possibly over issues like Taiwan, the South China Sea, or technology restrictions, there is a risk that China may again use this issue to exert pressure on the US. This is a complex issue with significant implications for both countries, and the extent to which China remains committed to addressing criminal activities remains to be seen.