US, China Agree To Cooperate To Combat Fentanyl Trafficking as Beijing Hopes for 'Positive Energy'

American and Chinese officials have pledged to collaborate in combating the trafficking of fentanyl into the United States.

The commitment to joint efforts was disclosed following a meeting in Beijing, marking a positive step in the midst of strained relations between the two global powers, as per Fox News.

US-China Cooperation on Fentanyl Control

CHINA-US-DIPLOMACY — (Photo : NG HAN GUAN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
US Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Homeland Security Advisor Jen Daskal (L) shakes hands with Chinese Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong before a meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on January 30, 2024.

The US delegation, led by Deputy Homeland Security Adviser Jen Daskal, emphasized the need for increased information sharing, enhanced law enforcement cooperation, and stringent control over chemicals produced in China that serve as key ingredients for fentanyl production elsewhere. This cooperative stance arises from the November summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden, where both leaders vowed to address companies involved in precursor chemical production for fentanyl.

Fentanyl, a highly addictive synthetic opioid, has been a major concern for the US, with China alleged to be the primary source of precursor chemicals used by drug cartels in Mexico. The US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has previously pointed to China as the main supplier of fentanyl-related substances entering the country.

The joint working group, established as a result of the leaders' common understanding, is viewed as a positive development amid escalating tensions over issues ranging from human rights to trade tariffs and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Chinese Minister of Public Security, Wang Xiaohong, expressed optimism, stating that cooperation between China and the US contributes positively to their relationship.

The significance of the issue was underscored by Daskal, who highlighted the devastating impact of synthetic drugs, particularly fentanyl, responsible for thousands of deaths. The high-profile US delegation sent to Beijing reflects the gravity of the situation and the importance attached to resolving the crisis by the American people, according to Al Jazeera.

US Overdose Crisis Spurs Joint Action

In 2022, over 100,000 people in the US lost their lives to drug overdoses, with opioids implicated in approximately 82,998 of these deaths, according to data from the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The urgency to address the fentanyl trade is evident, and the working group aims to develop concrete actions to reduce precursor chemicals that contribute to this public health crisis.

Despite previous allegations and confrontations between the US and China on the fentanyl trade, both nations are now signaling a willingness to cooperate. In October, the US imposed sanctions on Chinese entities allegedly involved in the illegal fentanyl trade. Beijing, however, has consistently denied any complicity and attributes the roots of the addiction crisis to the US.

The ongoing discussions are viewed as a positive beginning, although both parties recognize that further efforts are necessary to attain concrete outcomes. Our main objective is to implement concrete measures that will effectively decrease the precursor chemicals that contribute to the opioid crisis in the United States.

As the China-US counter-narcotics cooperation working group sets the stage for ongoing coordination, the international community watches closely, hopeful that this joint effort will contribute to addressing the illicit production, financing, and distribution of fentanyl on a global scale, Barrows reported.