China’s Role in the U.S. Fentanyl Crisis: A Conversation with Vanda Felbab-Brown
Aug 17, 2023
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Vanda Felbab-Brown, an expert on China's role in the fentanyl epidemic, discusses the global spread of fentanyl and synthetic drugs, China's complex relationship with drug networks, and the challenges in intelligence sharing and combating criminal networks between the US and China.
China's role in the fentanyl crisis extends beyond the US and has global implications.
Meaningful collaboration between the US and China on tackling the fentanyl crisis is limited due to strategic competition and China's denial and inadequate regulation.
Deep dives
The Scope of the Fentanyl Problem in the United States
The United States is facing a significant increase in drug overdose deaths, particularly due to fentanyl. This synthetic opioid is causing a major public health crisis and has become the most lethal drug epidemic in human history. The crisis is not limited to the United States, as Canada and Mexico are also experiencing devastating consequences. Fentanyl and its analogs are many times more potent than heroin, making them highly attractive for traffickers due to the small amounts needed to supply substantial markets. Fentanyl is not only mixed with opioids like heroin, but it's also increasingly combined with other drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine.
China's Role in the Fentanyl Crisis
China plays a significant role in the supply of fentanyl to the United States. Chinese traders started shipping synthetic opioids like fentanyl to the US market around 2013, amplifying the problem of overdose deaths. Initially, Chinese producers directly shipped finished fentanyl to the US, but eventually, they began sending precursor chemicals to Mexican cartels. These cartels would then synthesize fentanyl from these precursors in Mexico and distribute it in the United States. Efforts have been made to engage China in tighter regulation and law enforcement control, and there was a breakthrough in 2018 when China agreed to schedule the entire class of fentanyl-type drugs. However, meaningful cooperation has diminished, with China withdrawing from collaboration and denying any problems domestically.
Challenges in US-China Cooperation
Efforts to address the fentanyl crisis have faced challenges in US-China cooperation. China tends to deny any problems related to fentanyl and often shifts blame for the crisis onto the United States. Furthermore, inadequate regulation and law enforcement on fentanyl precursors in China contribute to the ongoing issue. Despite some actions taken to crack down on drug trafficking, China has not effectively dismantled the networks involved. China's reluctance to collaborate with the United States on drug-related issues is partly due to the overall strategic competition between the two countries. This lack of cooperation presents limited prospects for substantial US-China collaboration in the foreseeable future.
Recommendations for Addressing the Fentanyl Crisis
To tackle the fentanyl crisis, the United States should explore various strategies. Indictments and legal actions against Chinese companies and individuals involved in the supply chain have proven effective. Engaging other partners like Australia and European countries can also help shut down networks and dismantle production systems. Additionally, legislative action can be taken to restrict market access for companies that do not meet best practices in preventing diversion of chemicals to the illicit drug market. Enhancing access to effective treatment and harm reduction approaches for those affected by drug addiction is also crucial. Improved cooperation among US law enforcement agencies and breaking down information barriers would enhance intelligence sharing and investigations. Recognizing that the networks involved in drug trafficking are often engaged in other forms of product-related crimes can inform a comprehensive and multifaceted approach to dismantling these criminal networks.
In this episode of the ChinaPower Podcast, we are joined by Dr. Vanda Felbab-Brown to discuss China’s role in the fentanyl epidemic. Dr. Felbab-Brown explains that the fentanyl crisis is not just confined to the U.S. but has spread throughout North America as well as the rest of the globe. She unpacks the Chinese government’s approach to this issue and the conflicts it faces with trafficking networks. Moving forward, Dr. Felbab-Brown underscores the opportunity for the United States to engage with other countries to tackle this problem collaboratively.
Dr. Vanda Felbab-Brown is a senior fellow in the Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology in the Foreign Policy program at the Brookings Institution. She is the director of the Initiative on Nonstate Armed Actors and acted as a senior advisor to the congressionally-mandated Afghanistan Peace Process Study Group. Dr. Felbab-Brown is an expert on international and internal conflicts and nontraditional security threats, including insurgency, organized crime, urban violence, and illicit economies.
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