The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) convened a hearing to address the CCP’s involvement in the global fentanyl trade and its devastating consequences. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi highlighted the stark contrast between China’s low fentanyl death rate and the high number of deaths in the United States, pointing out the Chinese government’s failure to address the issue within its borders while allowing the drug to flow freely overseas.
During the hearing, Mr. Krishnamoorthi presented data showing zero fentanyl-related deaths in China in 2022, compared to 76,000 deaths in the US. He also cited a DEA report attributing 97% of illicit fentanyl entering the US to entities in China. The congressman criticized China for not taking sufficient action to combat the illicit fentanyl trade and for hindering US law enforcement efforts to address the issue.
A recent investigation by Mr. Krishnamoorthi and committee chairman Mike Gallagher revealed that the Chinese government, through the CCP, provides economic incentives to firms producing fentanyl and synthetic narcotics. The report recommended imposing sanctions on Chinese chemical companies involved in the drug trade and closing regulatory loopholes that allow Chinese entities to operate illicit operations in the US.
Efforts to address the fentanyl crisis include the formation of a US-PRC Bilateral Counternarcotics Working Group, aimed at curbing the flow of narcotics from China to the US. However, concerns raised in the House report about Chinese authorities obstructing investigations and aiding illicit drug manufacturers remain unresolved. Lawmakers are pushing for stricter sanctions and regulatory measures to combat the issue and prevent further harm from the global fentanyl trade. Please rephrase
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