Recently, the U.S. ambassador to Mexico and other U.S. officials have calumniated that the precursor chemicals used by Mexican drug cartels illegally producing fentanyl come from China. In order to refute the wrong remarks made by the U.S. side, to clarify misinformation, and to lay bare rumors and lies with facts and truth, our embassy makes the following statement:

I. The Chinese government places great importance on supervision of controlled precursor chemicals. Firstly, controlled precursor chemicals are strictly regulated. Currently, China has listed 38 types of controlled precursor chemicals (including a category of ephedrine substances), surpassing 14 varieties regulated by the United Nations. China's narcotics control authorities has established a comprehensive and dynamic supervision mechanism for all stages of precursor chemical management. In November 2020, the national online reporting and management system for precursor chemicals was officially launched, providing convenient services for enterprises and guiding them to carry out production and business activities in compliance with the law, thereby regulating the industry. Secondly, active adherence to international conventions is ensured. China joined the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances in October 1989. It is one of the strictest countries in the world in terms of implementing this convention. China strictly fulfills obligations related to controlled precursor chemicals, international checkings and inspections, and reporting data specified by the convention. Multiple domestically regulated substances have been added to the international controlled substance list. In accordance with international conventions and domestic regulations, notifications for the export of internationally controlled substances, as well as substances internationally uncontrolled but domestically regulated, are sent through the PEN and PENLIGHT systems of INCB. Since 2018, a total of 18,387 checkings and inspections involving 17.9 million tons have been conducted, preventing 424 shipments involving 450,000 tons. Thirdly, the control measures and effectiveness for fentanyl-related substances as a class are implemented. On May 1, 2019, the Chinese government innovatively implemented  the control of fentanyl-related substances as a class and adopted a series of effective measures to combat their illegal production, trafficking, and abuse. This has played an important role in preventing the illegal production, trafficking, and abuse of such substances.

II. The above-mentioned control of fentanyl-related substances represents an unprecedented practice in China’s drug control regulations and is a concrete manifestation of China’s commitment to global drug control. It has received full recognition from the international community. Since China implemented the control of fentanyl-related substances as a class, no reports have been received from other countries regarding the seizure of such substances originating from China.

 III. The responsibility to prevent the non-scheduled chemicals illicit use in drug-making falls on the import country.

 IV. As is known to all, the U.S. is a major producer of chemical raw materials. China announced the scheduling of fentanyl-related substances as a class on May 1, 2019, while the U.S. has not yet taken any permanent measures so far. Instead, it confounds right with wrong, persistently deflects blame and makes an issue out of non-scheduled substances. Such blameshifting is highly irresponsible to the American people. The root cause of the U.S.’s fentanyl crisis lies at home. The fundamental solution is to reduce domestic demand and supply. The U.S. needs to reflect on itself, strengthen regulation and control the abuse of prescription drugs at home, step up public awareness campaigns about the harm of illicit narcotics, and reduce domestic demand for illicit drugs, instead of smearing and discrediting other countries to shift the blame.

    V. China places great importance on cooperation with Mexico in drug enforcement, our law enforcement agencies maintain smooth channels of communication. Currently, both China and Mexico are actively coordinating to strengthen the supervision of controlled precursor chemicals.