According to information published by The New York Times, Beijing is reportedly considering presenting a proposal for enhanced cooperation in the fight against fentanyl. The proposal would include the possible trip to the U.S. capital of Wang Xiaohong, the country's top internal security chief. Wang, who heads the National Narcotics Control Commission and is a close collaborator of dictator Xi Jinping, is expected to lead this initiative.
This decision by Beijing comes after the then-President of the United States accused China of not acting firmly enough to curb the circulation of fentanyl. More recently, the U.S. administration has increased pressure on the Chinese government to take concrete actions regarding fentanyl precursors.
For some time, China has used the control of fentanyl and the chemical components necessary for its manufacture as a diplomatic tool in its relations with the United States. It has been mentioned that this measure aims to pave the way for possible bilateral agreements aimed at reducing tariffs, offering a less conflictual avenue at the international level.
Despite diplomatic efforts, fentanyl trafficking continues to pose a political and technical challenge. Shen Dingli, an academic specializing in international relations based in Shanghai, has stated that China has the full capacity to contain this problem. However, he has no knowledge of Beijing's potential plans to negotiate on fentanyl.
The Chinese dictatorship has been accused of supplying fentanyl to drug cartels in Mexico and Canada. Amid trade tensions with China, U.S. President Donald Trump has launched criticisms against Xi Jinping, holding him responsible for supplying cartels with fentanyl that later reaches U.S. soil.
In this context of rising tensions and trade confrontations, Beijing may be reconsidering its stance and seeking to open a new dialogue focused on combating fentanyl trafficking. Cooperation on this issue could become a key piece to initiate a new stage of negotiation between the two global powers.
