The notion that China might launch a modern “Opium War” against the US has gained traction in recent discourse, with claims circulating that China could be using fentanyl as a means to weaken the US from within. The phrase “Opium War” evokes significant historical context, referencing the 19th-century wars that devastated China at the hands of Western powers. Now, as tensions rise between the US and China, some have suggested that fentanyl, a deadly synthetic opioid, could become a modern weapon in this rivalry.
New Conflict:
The accusations that China is intentionally allowing or even encouraging the fentanyl crisis in the United States are stark. In 2023, a report from the US Congress blamed China for being the ultimate geographic source of the fentanyl crisis. The claim posits that China is either turning a blind eye or actively fostering the trafficking of fentanyl and its precursors into the US, contributing to an opioid epidemic that has claimed thousands of lives.
The accusation bears echoes of the historical Opium Wars, where Britain exported opium to China, leading to widespread addiction and the destabilization of Chinese society. However, Chinese authorities have repeatedly refuted these claims, pointing to China’s strict anti-drug policies and recent cooperation with the US to regulate fentanyl precursors. The Chinese government views the analogy of an “Opium War” as a gross historical misrepresentation designed to fuel anti-China sentiment .
Is China Capable of Such Measures?
China, as a global manufacturing hub, plays a role in producing chemical precursors used in the synthesis of fentanyl. However, this is not necessarily indicative of state-sponsored action or negligence. Fentanyl production and trafficking occur in complex, illicit networks that transcend national borders. While some Chinese chemical producers have been implicated in the illegal export of fentanyl precursors, there is little to suggest an orchestrated effort by the Chinese government to wage a drug war against the US.
China has made steps to curb the export of fentanyl-related substances. Following high-level discussions between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden in November 2022, China intensified its efforts to regulate these chemicals. As of September 2023, China added three fentanyl precursors to its list of controlled substances. This regulatory move was viewed as a positive step toward mitigating the US opioid crisis, signaling China’s willingness to cooperate .
While China has the manufacturing capabilities to produce these chemicals, it would be a significant leap to accuse the state of using fentanyl as a geopolitical weapon. Chinese society itself harbors a deep aversion to drug addiction, shaped by its historical trauma during the Opium Wars. The Chinese government’s anti-narcotics measures are among the strictest in the world, further complicating the narrative that China would encourage such a crisis in another country.
Effects:
If the narrative that China is deliberately allowing fentanyl to devastate the US continues to gain traction, it could worsen already frayed relations between the two superpowers. The trade war, ideological conflicts, and geopolitical competition, particularly in the South China Sea and Taiwan, have already set a tense stage for bilateral relations.
Should these accusations escalate, the US could impose further sanctions on Chinese entities, particularly targeting chemical companies. This could trigger a retaliatory response from China, further intensifying the trade conflict. Moreover, the US may seek to galvanize international opinion against China, adding fentanyl trafficking to a growing list of grievances against Beijing.
On the other hand, efforts to politicize the fentanyl crisis could undermine existing cooperation between the two countries. For instance, US-China cooperation in drug enforcement agencies has existed for over three decades, and there has been substantial progress in curbing fentanyl trafficking through joint efforts. A more antagonistic approach would derail these collaborative gains .
What is the Position of China and the US on this Matter?
China and the US hold fundamentally different views on the fentanyl crisis. The US Congress and various political figures have accused China of being the source of the crisis, citing the influx of fentanyl precursors from China to Mexican cartels, who then smuggle the drug into the US. These accusations are part of broader anti-China rhetoric that frames China as a threat to US national security.
On the other hand, China sees the fentanyl crisis as largely an American problem rooted in US domestic demand for opioids. Chinese authorities argue that the US needs to address the root causes of the opioid epidemic, including over-prescription by US doctors, the pharmaceutical industry’s role in pushing opioids, and a lack of adequate addiction treatment. China asserts that without curbing domestic demand, the US will struggle to solve the crisis, regardless of international cooperation .
US Elections:
The fentanyl crisis is likely to be a significant talking point during the upcoming US elections, particularly in the context of the opioid epidemic that has devastated many American communities. Politicians, particularly from the Republican Party, have seized on the issue to paint China as a villain, drawing a line between fentanyl trafficking and national security concerns. As the elections draw nearer, the narrative that China is waging an “Opium War” against the US could gain more traction, particularly in the context of anti-China sentiment.
Some political figures may leverage the crisis to advocate for stronger border security and tougher sanctions on China. This could resonate with voters who are directly affected by the opioid epidemic, many of whom blame foreign entities for the crisis. However, politicizing the fentanyl issue could also lead to oversimplified solutions that ignore the complex domestic factors contributing to the crisis .
Substantive evidence
While the rhetoric of a new “Opium War” waged by China against the US may be compelling in political discourse, it lacks substantive evidence. The fentanyl crisis in the US is a multifaceted issue rooted in domestic demand and systemic failures within the US healthcare and regulatory systems. Accusing China of using fentanyl as a geopolitical weapon overlooks the fact that China has actively participated in cooperative efforts to combat drug trafficking.
US-China relations could deteriorate further if these accusations continue to escalate, leading to a potential breakdown in cooperative efforts to resolve the crisis. As both countries navigate these tensions, the impact on international relations and domestic politics, particularly in the context of US elections, will be profound.
References
- American Addiction Centers. Fentanyl Abuse in America: A Growing Epidemic.
- Congressional Research Service. The Role of China in the Fentanyl Crisis.
- Al Jazeera. Fentanyl Crisis: A US-Made Disaster.
- South China Morning Post. US-China Relations: Fentanyl at the Forefront.
- Global Times. China Responds to Fentanyl Accusations.
- New York Times. China’s Efforts in Combating Fentanyl Trafficking.
- Reuters. China Adds Fentanyl Precursors to Controlled Substances List.
- BBC News. The US Opioid Crisis: How Fentanyl Became a Political Issue.
