Commentary
Fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, is responsible for nearly 100,000 deaths annually in the United States, surpassing the death toll of many historical conflicts. A significant U.S. Congressional hearing on April 17 delved into the role of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in this escalating crisis. The inquiry focuses on whether the CCP’s involvement is due to negligence or a deliberate strategy to flood the United States with substantial amounts of fentanyl.
Independent producer Li Jun discussed the ongoing congressional investigations on the program “Pinnacle View.” The hearings, collectively titled “Defending America from the Chinese Communist Party’s Political Warfare,” suggest a multifaceted strategy by the CCP that goes beyond conventional military engagements. More details were revealed during these sessions.
Just before the hearings, the U.S. House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party released a damning report highlighting the CCP’s potential involvement in a drug war by enabling the spread of fentanyl in America.
Contrary to Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s public statements on fentanyl, the report paints a grim picture of worsening conditions. Alarming evidence gathered by the U.S. underscores the severity of the crisis.
Mr. Li stated, “Investigations have revealed that the CCP provides export subsidies to fentanyl manufacturers, a concerning revelation. While tightly controlling fentanyl domestically, the CCP’s export policies are lenient, with subsidies boosting confidence among businesses, leading to a significant increase in exports.”
When the U.S. tried to investigate firms suspected of supplying fentanyl precursors, it was revealed that the CCP had alerted these companies in advance, hindering U.S. efforts to stop the drug flow.
Broader Accusations of Unrestricted Warfare
Mr. Li described the CCP’s tactics as a form of “unrestricted warfare,” involving economic strategies like dumping cheap goods to undercut U.S. manufacturing and espionage activities as highlighted by former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
“The U.S. has awakened to the CCP’s long-standing engagement in unrestricted warfare, despite surface-level cooperation. The report, primarily led by Congress with significant military input, reveals the true nature of CCP’s actions,” Mr. Li explained.
Fentanyl: A Crisis Engineered with Startling Efficiency
China affairs specialist Tang Jingyuan, also on “Pinnacle View,” emphasized the potency and accessibility of fentanyl, surpassing heroin in lethality by over 5,000 times.
He outlined key factors contributing to its widespread abuse: inexpensive and available precursors, cheap and accessible synthesis equipment, and a simple production process completed in a few steps.
“This enables drug traffickers in Mexico to produce large quantities of fentanyl using precursors from China, posing a grave threat to Americans,” Mr. Tang elaborated.
Alarming Developments
In 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice indicted four Chinese companies for exporting 200 kilograms of raw fentanyl materials, potentially yielding enough pure fentanyl to endanger millions of Americans. These statistics underscore the heightened tensions between the U.S. and China over fentanyl control.
Mr. Tang likened the CCP’s facilitation of fentanyl trafficking to the U.S. to a “modern-day Opium War,” far exceeding the intensity of the historical Opium Wars.
“The export of fentanyl is a deliberate government action by the CCP, supported by substantial evidence. The recent U.S. hearing revealed that the Chinese government incentivizes fentanyl exports through tax rebates, pushing more drugs into the U.S. The CCP’s control prevents a fentanyl epidemic within China,” Mr. Tang asserted.
Government Complicity and Global Consequences
Mr. Tang highlighted a case where journalist Ben Westhoff detailed China’s fentanyl supply chain, raising questions about CCP’s awareness and tacit approval of these activities.
This situation presents ethical and geopolitical questions about state-sponsored activities in global drug trafficking and poses a direct challenge to U.S. drug enforcement efforts.
CCP’s Unceasing Drug Production
On the program, Mr. [Last Name] discussed the CCP’s continuous production and export of fentanyl, fueling a crisis that demands urgent attention and international cooperation.
Li delved into the historical origins of the CCP’s involvement in narcotics, tracing back to opium production in Yan’an. This early involvement was detailed in The Vladimirov Diaries by Petr Parfenovich Vladimirov, Moscow’s special envoy to China in the 1940s, revealing how the CCP engaged in opium production and sales. Li emphasized that even after assuming power, the CCP continued these practices covertly.
Zhang Youjin, a Chinese historian based in the U.S., provided further insight from interviews with descendants of individuals from the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. These interviews uncovered the involvement of members in poppy cultivation and opium production targeted at foreign markets. Although poppy cultivation declined in the 1990s due to China’s pursuit of WTO membership and improved U.S. relations, a shift towards ephedrine production, a key ingredient in methamphetamine, was observed.
A significant drug bust in Shenzhen in the early 21st century, where a trafficking ring led by a Hong Kong national was apprehended with 30 tons of methamphetamine, highlighted the magnitude of the issue. While the Xinjiang corps ceased poppy cultivation, their continued engagement in ephedrine production suggests a transformed involvement in narcotics. Recent reports from Chinese state media CCTV confirm the lucrative nature of cultivating ephedrine-yielding plants in Xinjiang, indicating an ongoing commitment to drug production.
The historical context and current implications were further explored by Shi Shan, who highlighted the origins of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps and their involvement in the opium trade during the Anti-Japanese War. Interviews with former opium producers revealed distinctions between “Southern Goods” and “Soviet Soil” opium marketed during the war. Shi emphasized the intentional use of substances by the CCP government for international profit, harm, and exploitation.
Guo Jun, editor-in-chief of The Epoch Times’ Hong Kong edition, discussed the complex dynamics of the international drug war, emphasizing the need for international cooperation in combating drug trafficking. She pointed out historical efforts by the U.S. to address drug issues with countries like Mexico and Colombia. Guo also highlighted interactions between the U.S. and China regarding drug cooperation, suggesting that Beijing continued to facilitate drug sales to the U.S., contributing to tensions.
Guo mentioned a potentially groundbreaking U.S. intelligence report targeting corruption and hidden wealth among CCP elites, including Xi Jinping and other high-ranking officials. The report, once published, could have significant implications for the CCP’s internal dynamics, eroding public support and intensifying internal conflicts within the party. By strategically revealing details and timing disclosures, the U.S. retains a powerful tool to influence the CCP’s leadership.
The views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and may not reflect those of The Epoch Times. Please rewrite this sentence.
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