Chinese State Media Criticizes U.S.: "Why Can't Drug Crackdowns Match Immigration Enforcement?"

"Less Investment in Drug Enforcement Than Immigration Control"
US and China Trade Blame Over Fentanyl Abuse

China's state-run media has criticized U.S. authorities' commitment to cracking down on the so-called "zombie drug" fentanyl.

On June 23, Global Times, the English-language outlet affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party's official newspaper People's Daily, published an opinion piece titled "China's Drug Control Efforts and Achievements Sound Alarm for Washington." The article stated, "If the U.S. government had prioritized the fentanyl crisis with the same resources and determination it has shown in the immigration crisis, the fentanyl problem in the United States would not exist today."

People opposing immigration crackdowns and President Donald Trump's policies are holding protests. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News.

The article continued, "It is true that the federal system creates objective difficulties for the United States in conducting drug enforcement, as each state has different policies." However, it questioned, "Why is the strong enforcement and resource mobilization seen in U.S. immigration crackdowns not applied to fentanyl control?"

The outlet also pointed out that while the U.S. is expected to spend about $34 billion (approximately 47 trillion won) this year on immigration and border enforcement, the budget for the Drug Enforcement Administration is only about $3 billion (approximately 4 trillion won). The article criticized, "It is clear that the U.S. government is investing far more in immigration enforcement than in drug enforcement."

Regarding President Donald Trump's imposition of high tariffs on China since taking office this year and his claim that China should be held responsible for the influx of fentanyl, the Chinese side has denied these allegations. The U.S. maintains that precursor chemicals from China are being shipped to Mexico and Canada, where fentanyl is produced and then smuggled into the United States, and accuses China of failing to respond adequately. In contrast, the Chinese side has suggested that the U.S. should learn from China's drug policies.

Global Times stated, "According to the recently released 'China Drug Situation 2024,' there is no evidence of serious abuse of fentanyl-type substances in China." The article added, "China's comprehensive control model demonstrates both foresight and strong enforcement capabilities in cracking down on psychoactive substances, which remain a global challenge."

The article further noted, "The National Narcotics Control Commission of China has included all nitazene-type substances, including nitazene, and 12 types of new psychoactive substances on its list of controlled drugs." It explained, "Whereas traditional drug enforcement targeted specific substances one by one?a 'point' approach?the new method bans all substances with similar chemical structures or pharmacological effects."

Fentanyl, used as a general anesthetic, is a representative opioid narcotic analgesic. Abuse among young people in the United States has become a serious issue. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2023 alone, more than 105,000 Americans died from drug overdoses. Of these, 73,000 deaths?about 69% of the total?were related to synthetic opioids.

In addition, as of 2023, drug overdose was identified as the leading cause of death among Americans aged 15 to 44, surpassing heart disease, cancer, suicide, traffic accidents, and COVID-19. Although the United States has temporarily suspended high tariffs on China for 90 days as part of a tariff war truce, the "fentanyl tariff" of 20% remains in place.