Chinese citizens stand trial for fentanyl-related charges in landmark US case
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Chinese Executives Face Trial in US Fentanyl Case
Above: An officer from the US Customs and Border Protection, Trade and Cargo Division, finds Oxycodone pills in a parcel at John F. Kennedy Airport's US Postal Service facility as part of a search for fentanyl on June 24, 2019, in New York. Image copyright: Johannes Eisele/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Spin
Anti-China narrative
China plays a pivotal role in the US fentanyl crisis as it's the primary supplier of precursor chemicals to Mexican cartels, which then synthesize and smuggle fentanyl onto US soil. These precursors are knowingly sold by Chinese brokers, often accompanied by detailed production instructions. Beijing's promise to regulate the trade has fallen far short, with the issue only growing and very few prosecutions in China. Tackling China's role is essential to save American lives.
Pro-China narrative
The US fentanyl crisis stems not from China, but primarily from its domestic issues — including overprescription, inadequate regulations, and political gridlock that hinders effective drug control policies. While China enforces stringent controls on fentanyl and has exceeded UN standards, the US deflects blame, wrongly accusing China instead of addressing its pharmaceutical industry's role and lax enforcement.