U.S.-China Fentanyl Crisis: Productive First Day of Talks in Beijing

The U.S.-China relationship has been a complex one, with numerous areas of disagreement and cooperation. One of the most pressing issues that the two countries have agreed to address is the fentanyl crisis. On January 30, 2024, the first day of talks in Beijing between the U.S. and Chinese delegations, there were signs of progress in the fight against this deadly drug.

Jennifer Daskal, a deputy homeland security advisor, reported that the talks were “productive,” with both sides expressing a commitment to finding solutions to the fentanyl crisis. The U.S. and China have agreed to cooperate in reducing the illicit supply of fentanyl and its precursors, which are primarily produced in China and Mexico.

The fentanyl crisis is a significant issue in the U.S., with the drug leading to tens of thousands of overdose deaths each year. The reduction of illicit supplies of fentanyl and its precursors is a critical step in addressing this crisis.

The talks came amid an otherwise fraught bilateral relationship. In November 2023, U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to establish a working group on drug control. This agreement marked a rare area of cooperation between the two countries.

Chinese Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong announced the launch of the U.S.-China Counternarcotics Working Group during the talks. He expressed hope that both sides would “inject more positive energy” into the stable development of U.S.-China relations.

The U.S. had previously removed the Ministry of Public Security’s Institute of Forensic Science of China from the entity list, effectively lifting sanctions on its narcotics lab. This removal allows China’s National Narcotics Lab to repair or buy new equipment, mostly made in the U.S., and reduce delays in research. Greater bilateral cooperation also allows the two countries to exchange information about drugs more easily.

However, there is more that needs to be done to address the fentanyl crisis. It is unclear to what extent Beijing is willing or able to act. Earlier this month, Yu Haibin, deputy secretary-general of the National Narcotics Control Commission, emphasized that the root cause of the fentanyl crisis lies within the U.S. He called for a reduction in demand, as controlling demand will naturally curb supply.

Daskal acknowledged that the issue of U.S. fentanyl demand was discussed during the talks. She pointed out that both delegations spent most of the first day discussing the need to address the supply of the pill, process, and other equipment used to manufacture these deadly drugs.

The two-day meeting that kicked off on January 30, 2024, was billed as the “Inauguration of the China-U.S. Counternarcotics Working Group.” Daskal, the leader of the White House delegation for this week’s high-level talks, expressed optimism about the potential for progress. She noted that Beijing has already sent notices to Chinese companies that make precursors for fentanyl and that incidents are being reported to the International Narcotics Control.

Despite the progress made during the first day of talks, it is essential to recognize that more needs to be done to address the fentanyl crisis. The cooperation between the U.S. and China is a crucial step in the fight against this deadly drug, but it is only the beginning of a long and complex process.

The U.S. and China must continue to work together to address the root causes of the fentanyl crisis and find effective solutions to reduce the supply of this deadly drug. The talks in Beijing marked an important step forward in this effort, but much more needs to be done to ensure the safety and well-being of people in both countries and around the world.

In conclusion, the first day of talks between the U.S. and Chinese delegations in Beijing on January 30, 2024, marked a productive step forward in the fight against the fentanyl crisis. Both sides expressed a commitment to finding solutions to this deadly drug, with a focus on reducing the illicit supply of fentanyl and its precursors. The cooperation between the U.S. and China is a crucial step in the fight against this deadly drug, but it is only the beginning of a long and complex process. The two countries must continue to work together to address the root causes of the fentanyl crisis and find effective solutions to reduce the supply of this deadly drug. The safety and well-being of people in both countries and around the world depend on it.