Zombie Drug Crisis Hits US... Will Sanctions on 'Origin' China Be Lifted?

Some factories in China suspected of producing key fentanyl ingredients
National agencies consider sanctions to gain cooperation
WSJ: "Potential US concession to China"

The U.S. government is reportedly considering lifting sanctions on certain Chinese government agencies to address the serious social issue of the "zombie drug" fentanyl.

Some chemical companies in China manufacture key raw materials necessary for producing fentanyl, making cooperation from Chinese authorities essential to eradicate the distribution of fentanyl in the U.S.

On the 24th (local time), The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), citing sources familiar with the matter, reported that the Biden administration is reviewing the lifting of sanctions on the Chinese Ministry of Public Security's "Institute of Forensic Science" to secure cooperation from China regarding the fentanyl crisis.

Earlier last month, U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken, during his visit to Beijing, proposed the formation of a new working group to resume talks on combating fentanyl with the Chinese side.

The U.S. and China have closely cooperated since 2018 to eradicate the illegal distribution of fentanyl. Because several key raw materials required for fentanyl production are manufactured in chemical factories in China, monitoring these requires cooperation from Chinese authorities.

Thanks to cooperation between the two countries, illegal fentanyl distribution in the U.S. gradually decreased. However, as U.S.-China trade tensions intensified and China responded uncooperatively, the fentanyl addiction problem in the U.S. has now reached a dangerous level.

According to WSJ, China maintains that it will only resume cooperation on the fentanyl issue if the U.S. first lifts sanctions on the Ministry of Public Security's Institute of Forensic Science.

Fentanyl precursor found at a US airport.
Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

The Institute of Forensic Science was blacklisted by the U.S. Department of Commerce in 2020 during the Donald Trump administration. This was due to allegations that the institute was involved in human rights abuses against the Uyghur population in the Xinjiang region.

China strongly denies these allegations and argues that the Chinese National Narcotics Control Institute, located in the same area as the Institute of Forensic Science, has faced difficulties in monitoring illegal drugs due to delays in receiving narcotics control equipment.

While the Biden administration has been critical of China's human rights abuses, it appears to be considering lifting sanctions as the fentanyl addiction problem in the U.S. worsens. WSJ noted, "President Biden is trying to address a domestic issue that is a priority," and that "(lifting sanctions) would represent a potential concession by the U.S. to China."

However, it also pointed out that "lifting sanctions on Chinese government agencies suspected of involvement in widespread human rights abuses in Xinjiang could provoke backlash within the U.S."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.