A recent House report reveals that China's communist government plays a significant role in fueling the fentanyl crisis in the United States by subsidizing the production of fentanyl materials. This bipartisan investigation sheds light on the Chinese Communist Party's active involvement in the illicit fentanyl trade, a crucial issue as overdoses in the U.S. continue to rise.
Fentanyl, identified as the "leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-45," according to the report released by the House Select Committee on the CCP, underscores the urgency of addressing China's role in this crisis. Despite commitments made by President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping to stem the flow of chemical precursors to fentanyl, the report exposes ongoing subsidies and incentives provided by the People's Republic of China (PRC) to fuel the production and export of illicit fentanyl materials.
Through undisclosed programs involving subsidies, grants, and other incentives, the PRC not only harms Americans but also enriches Chinese companies. The report highlights the direct subsidization by the CCP of manufacturing and exporting illicit fentanyl materials, along with its undisclosed ownership interests in multiple Chinese firms involved in illegal drug trafficking. Moreover, despite stringent internet surveillance, China permits websites to openly sell fentanyl precursors, essential chemicals for producing the lethal drug.
The release of the report coincided with a public hearing on the matter, during which former U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr emphasized the groundbreaking nature of the findings. He stressed that the PRC and CCP are not passive bystanders but rather active sponsors and facilitators of the fentanyl trade, deeply entrenched in its production and distribution.
The committee's investigation involved extensive scrutiny of Chinese websites, government documents, and undercover communications with Chinese drug trafficking entities, supplemented by consultations with experts from both the public and private sectors. Despite recent discussions between Biden and Xi on joint efforts to combat the illegal narcotics trade, the report reveals a lack of tangible progress, with no evidence of new criminal enforcement actions by Chinese authorities against the flow of illegal fentanyl materials.
Instead of cooperating with U.S. law enforcement, Chinese authorities have reportedly hindered investigations by tipping off targets of U.S. inquiries. This failure to act, coupled with evidence of PRC's incentivization of illegal drug exports and its ownership stakes in complicit companies, undermines China's assurances of curbing the export of illicit fentanyl materials.
The report offers several recommendations to address this pressing issue, including the establishment of a joint task force and the enhancement of U.S. sanctions authorities to aggressively target entities involved in the fentanyl trade. These measures aim to curb China's complicity in perpetuating the fentanyl epidemic and safeguard public health in the United States.
Source: AXIOS