"Zombie City" San Francisco Mayor to Request Xi Jinping to Block Fentanyl

509 Deaths from Fentanyl by September This Year
US to Enter Negotiations with Main Raw Material Supplier China

San Francisco, once the heart of Silicon Valley, is struggling with the "zombie drug" fentanyl. Amid this, the city is making busy efforts to improve its image by hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

On the 11th (local time), the APEC summit is being held in San Francisco, California, USA. The APEC meeting, which runs until the 17th, is an important event that San Francisco, which has seen a massive exodus of companies due to unresolved drug and crime problems worsened after COVID-19, hopes to use as a stepping stone for revival.

In particular, San Francisco is making various efforts such as cleaning the streets and relocating homeless people to successfully host this APEC summit and escape the so-called "Doom loop."

San Francisco, Fallen from the Heart of Silicon Valley to a Crime-ridden City

In particular, in San Francisco alone, there were approximately 620 deaths due to drug overdoses up to September this year. This number is close to the total deaths (649) from the previous year. Among these, 506 deaths were caused by fentanyl, accounting for 80% of the total. It has even earned the notorious nickname "Zombie City" because fentanyl addicts roam the streets like zombies.
[Photo by AFP·Yonhap News]

Once noted as a cradle of progressivism and diversity, San Francisco has recently degenerated into a crime city overrun by drug addicts and robbers. The biggest problem is "drugs." San Francisco is currently facing a serious issue with drug overdoses, including fentanyl.

Especially, in San Francisco alone, the number of deaths due to drug overdoses reached 620 by September this year. This figure is close to last year's total deaths (649). Among these, 506 deaths were caused by fentanyl, accounting for 80% of the total. The city has even earned the infamous nickname "Zombie City" because fentanyl addicts roam the streets like zombies.

In response, on the 13th (local time), London Breed, Mayor of San Francisco, said in an interview with Bloomberg TV that when asked, "If you have a chance to talk with the Chinese president during APEC, what would you request?" she replied, "I would ask for cooperation with the U.S. to block as much as possible the resources (fentanyl) sent from China from entering the U.S. or Mexico."

The APEC Summit will be held in San Francisco, California, USA, until the 17th (local time). During this period, San Francisco, which has faced severe drug and crime problems since the COVID-19 pandemic and experienced a large-scale exodus of businesses, is struggling to use APEC as an opportunity for revival.
[Photo by Reuters·Yonhap News]

Mayor Breed expressed concern, saying, "I hope to maintain the good relationship that has always existed between China and the U.S.," adding, "Right now, fentanyl is very deadly to Americans, so it is also negatively affecting the relationship between the two countries."

Fentanyl is illegally entering the U.S. through Mexico, with Chinese authorities believed to be the main suppliers of raw materials, according to U.S. officials.

Not only Mayor Breed but also U.S. authorities are expected to discuss the fentanyl smuggling issue with China during this APEC meeting to block illegal inflows.

There are also expectations that an agreement related to fentanyl between the two countries will be reached.

Meanwhile, President Xi Jinping is scheduled to hold a summit with U.S. President Joe Biden on the 15th during this visit.