Uncategorized
America’s fentanyl crisis is a national failure. Blaming China won’t fix it.
By Zhong Sheng, People’s Daily
When a U.S. mayor recently floated the outrageous idea of “giving free fentanyl” to homeless people, the public backlash was swift and fierce. The episode once again exposed the severity of America’sfentanyl crisis. Yet rather than confronting its domestic failures, Washington has repeatedly turned to scapegoating – citing the fentanyl issue as a pretext to impose additional tariffs on imports from China.
This pattern of deflection does nothing to resolve America’s own problems and instead risks jeopardizing the foundation for China-U.S. cooperation on drug control.
Eventoday, the U.S. has yet to fully and permanently regulate fentanyl-related substances, and its sluggish regulatory response has only worsened drug abuse and the proliferation of narcotics.
Despite being home to just 5 percent of the world’s population, the country accounts for 80 percent of global opioid use – a veritable black hole in global drug control efforts.
According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were an estimated 74,702 overdose deaths from synthetic opioids – primarily fentanyl – in the U.S. during 2023, accounting for nearly 70 percent of all drug overdose fatalities. For Americans aged 18 to 45, the leading cause of death is fentanyl.
Confronted with what has been described as “the singledeadliest drug threat America has ever encountered,” the U.S. government has yet to deliver a coherent or effective response. It has failed to reduce domestic demand, strengthen oversight of prescription medications, or enhance public awareness of the harms associated with drug abuse. To this day, a comprehensive anti-drug policy remains elusive.
According to a survey commissioned by PAX sapiens, when asked to select a single group most responsible for the opioid crisis, criminal cartels were most frequently identified followed by the pharmaceutical companies and the U.S. federal government. As the Atlantic has noted, addressing the fentanyl crisis in the U.S. requiressweeping reforms across public policy, law enforcement, and the legal system.
As one of the countries with the strictest anti-drug policies and the most rigorous enforcement in the world, China maintains a zero-tolerance attitude towarddrugs, including fentanyl-related substances, and rigorously meets its international drug control obligations.
In March this year, China released a white paper titled “Controlling Fentanyl-Related Substances — China’s Contribution,” highlighting its rigorous control over the chemicals. China has exercised strict supervision over fentanyl-related medications, struck hard against fentanyl-related crimes, enforced strict control over precursors of fentanyl-related substances, accelerated technology research, development and application, adopted comprehensive measures for more efficient drug control, and promoted global governance.
Despite the absence of widespread fentanyl abuse domestically, Chinabecame the first country in the world to officially schedule fentanyl-related substances as a class in 2019 out of humanitarian goodwill and at the request of the U.S. side. Since China’s regulation, there have been no cases of fentanyl-related substances being smuggled and trafficked from China to other countries – and no reports from the U.S. of seizures of such substances originating from China.
Even the U.S. Department of State, in its International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, acknowledged that America had detected or seized almost no shipments of fentanyl or fentanyl analogues coming from China since 2019, when China implemented class-wide controls of all forms of fentanyl.
In recent years, the precursors of fentanyl-related substances have constantly changed, and the number of variations soared. China has consistently strengthened precursor control, adopted multi-level and category-specific supervision, strictly supervised exports, and curbed the diversion of precursor chemicals. It has also carried out sustained and in-depth cooperation with relevant countries, including the U.S. and Mexico, yielding notable results in addressing the cross-border diversion of fentanyl precursors.
Drug law enforcement is a central focus of cooperation between China and the United States. The China-U.S. Counternarcotics Working Group, established in 2024, provides an important platform for the two sides to jointly address global drug challenges.
In July 2024, an interdepartmentalChinese delegation visited the U.S. to attend the first senior official meeting of the working group. The drug control authorities of the two countries also maintain daily hotline communication and host regular exchange meetings. The two sides have been working pragmatically to promote dialogue and cooperation in drug control and law enforcement.Since 2024, multiple exchangeshave been conducted to promote technical cooperation and strengthen technical support in addressing the fentanyl issue.
As reported by the Diplomat, China-U.S. cooperation on fentanyl can save lives, protect societies, and punish drug traffickers.
The unilateral imposition of tariffs by the U.S. on goods imported from China under the pretext of the fentanyl issue severely violates the rules of the World Trade Organization. China is strongly dissatisfied with and firmly opposes the action, and has taken necessary countermeasures to firmly safeguard its own rights and interests.
China upholds a clear and principled position on its cooperation with the U.S. on drug control: It is committed to dialogue and cooperation based on equality and mutual respect. The U.S. should respect the facts, confront its own problems, and make choicesthat truly serve the interests of its own people. It must stop using the fentanyl crisis as a pretext topressure, threaten, or blackmail China.
(Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by People’s Daily to express its views on foreign policy and international affairs.)
Yenagoa, Nigeria – Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, has died after collapsing in his office. He was 60 years old.
Reports indicate that Senator Ewhrudjakpo slumped in his office and was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Yenagoa, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
The Bayelsa State Government has confirmed the death, describing it as a “huge loss”. Tributes have poured in from across the state and the country, praising Senator Ewhrudjakpo’s service and contributions to the development of Bayelsa State and Nigeria.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo had been serving as Deputy Governor since 2020 under Governor Douye Diri. Prior to his elevation, he represented Bayelsa West in the 9th Senate, where he chaired key committees and was regarded as one of the more influential lawmakers from the South-South region.
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Senator Ikpae Joseph Igiagbe Commends President Tinubu’s Efforts to Address Insecurity
By Abdullateef Bambgose
Senator Ikpae Joseph Igiagbe, representing Edo Central in the Senate, has praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s response to the escalating insecurity in the country, expressing confidence that the measures put in place will restore safety and promote economic growth.
Speaking in an interview with news men at the National Assembly, on Thursday Senator Igiagbe acknowledged the President’s efforts, saying, “Mr. President is doing his best to address these issues. Security is crucial not only for peace but also for economic growth. By the grace of God, our economy is showing improvement.”
The lawmaker emphasized the importance of collective responsibility, stating, “Every Nigerian has a role to play in improving our country. Municipalities alone cannot solve all our problems. Each of us, regardless of belief, tradition, or background, must strive to raise our communities well.”
Senator Igiagbe also expressed concern about opposition attempts to politicize the insecurity issue, saying, “Unfortunately, some opposition is attempting to use insecurity and other challenges to discredit the administration ahead of the 2027 elections.”
On state policing, the Senator expressed support for regionalizing security operations, saying, “This approach ensures that people protect their communities, and it can reduce insecurity significantly.”
He also announced plans to introduce a bill leveraging the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to provide young people with pathways into military and paramilitary service, aiming to reduce unemployment and strengthen community safety.
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Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
The Kwara State Government has unveiled a comprehensive 2026 Action Plan to accelerate economic growth, improve service delivery, and enhance the welfare of all residents.
The plan focuses on key reform pillars, including land administration modernization, agricultural investments for food security, strengthened public-private partnerships (PPPs) and export promotion, accelerated infrastructure development, and expedited justice delivery with clear, measurable timelines.
Speaking at the stakeholders’ meeting on Ease of Doing Business, the Commissioner for Finance and Chairman of the Kwara State Ease of Doing Business Council, Dr. Hauwa Nuru, reaffirmed the administration’s unwavering commitment to transparent governance, accountability, and inclusive stakeholder engagement.
She highlighted strategic focus areas for 2026, emphasising land administration reforms, agricultural investment promotion, public – private partnership expansions, infrastructure delivery, and justice sector efficiency—all with time-bound targets to ensure measurable results.
According to her, government policies must continue to positively shape the business environment by enhancing regulatory clarity and improving service efficiency, particularly through the SABER programme.
“The goal of Ease of Doing Business is to ensure that government and stakeholders work together to create a truly conducive business environment—one that drives innovation, investment, and sustainable economic growth under Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s leadership,” she added.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Works, Engr. AbdulQuawiy Olododo, reiterated the government’s commitment to scaling up infrastructure across the State, with continued investments in roads, bridges, electricity, water, healthcare, and education to attract private capital and stimulate development.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Business, Innovation and Technology, Mrs Damilola Yusuf Adelodun, emphasised that the State now operates a transparent and predictable investment promotion framework, designed to support companies, cooperatives, and local investors with accessible processes and competitive incentives.
The Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Geographic Information Service (KWGIS), Mallam Sulyman Abdulkareem, noted that the recently commissioned land digitalization system marks a significant milestone in improving transparency and efficiency in land administration. He explained that the digital platform will streamline land records, title issuance, and related transaction aimed at significantly reducing processing times and improving tenure security for citizens and investors.
Adding to this, the Accountant General of the State, Mallam Abdulganiyu Sanni, commended the government’s reforms, noting that “transparent and clearly published official fees, procedures, and service timelines have strengthened public trust and showcased the State’s commitment to efficient, accountable public service delivery.” He emphasized that these measures are essential to creating a predictable environment that supports businesses and enhances revenue integrity.
Stakeholders in attendance also expressed strong support. The Chairman of the Nigeria Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Mr. Olawoyin Yinka Solomon, commended the government for policies that continue to improve the business climate. The Vice Chairman of the National Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), Kwara State Chapter, Alh. Babatunde Ganiyu Aremu similarly applauded the Council’s efforts to sustain a conducive environment for MSMEs across the State.
End
Bayelsa Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, Passes Away
Senator Ikpae Joseph Igiagbe Commends President Tinubu’s Efforts to Address Insecurity
Kwara Govt Unveils 2026 Action Plan For Ease Of Doing Business
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