China slams President Donald Trump for accusing China as the source of fentanyl, which causes deaths among Americans.
On August 23, in a series of Tweets, Trump claims that fentanyl flooding the U.S. comes from China. “I am ordering all carriers, including Fed Ex, Amazon, UPS and the Post Office, to search for and refuse all deliveries of fentanyl from China (or anywhere else). Fentanyl kills 100,000 Americans a year,” the Tweet read.
Liu Yuejin, vice commissioner of China's National Narcotics Control Commission, called Trump’s statement "completely groundless and untrue." In a state television report, Liu reiterated that China was cracking down on illicit fentanyl production.
"The National Narcotics Control report states that looking at cases, counter-narcotics law enforcement departments from China and the United States have for many years maintained a good cooperative relationship,” said Liu.
"But cooperation on investigating and prosecuting fentanyl-related substances is extremely limited,” he added.
"Blatant slander"
In August, Trump said that Chinese President Xi Jinping is not fulfilling his promise to cease the entry of fentanyl and fentanyl analogues into the U.S.
State news agency Xinhua called Trump’s Tweet “blatant slander.”
“China has made unprecedented efforts in addressing the fentanyl issue, in terms of issuing laws and regulations, conducting an overall market inspection and stepping up police investigations,” according to the commentary.
It further says that Chinese law enforcers already identified cases of illegal processing or trafficking of fentanyl-like substances to the U.S. However, the number of such cases is “very small – it is impossible for China to be a major source of fentanyl-like substances in the United States.”
In Trump’s Tweet last week, he also claims that the American economy is “much larger” than that of China. He says that China is stealing “vast amounts of money” from the U.S. for decades. He calls on American companies to look for alternative to China, including bringing their “companies home and making your products in the USA.”
