China Refutes US Label as a ‘Major Drug Source Country,’ Calls for Objective Assessment
In a recent press briefing, Wei Xiaojun, the executive deputy director of China’s National Narcotics Control Commission (NNCC) and the head of the Ministry of Public Security’s narcotics control bureau, strongly opposed the U.S. characterization of China as a ‘major drug source country.’ Wei argued that the U.S., being the world’s largest consumer of narcotics, should not criticize China’s robust anti-drug initiatives.
Counter-narcotics Efforts in China
Wei detailed China’s robust efforts to counter drug issues, including scheduling 456 anesthetic and psychotropic drugs, along with two entire classes of substances. China maintains a list of 38 types of controlled precursor chemicals and employs a comprehensive and dynamic supervision mechanism to monitor precursor chemical management at all stages.
Facts and Figures: China’s Drug Control Measures
According to NNCC data, from January to August of the year, there has been a 10 percent year-on-year increase in concluded drug crimes, with 39,000 suspects arrested, a 16.4 percent increase. Additionally, 16.5 tons of drugs were confiscated, showing a 24.7 percent growth.
Conversely, new drug users detected across China dropped by 10.6 percent year-on-year, while drug addicts investigated and punished decreased by 18.1 percent.
The U.S. Fentanyl Crisis
Wei contrasted these efforts with the ongoing fentanyl crisis in the United States, where the death toll continues to rise, despite global and local regulations becoming increasingly strict.
U.S. Drug Problem: The Larger Picture
Wei pointed out that while China has a population of over 1.4 billion, it had only 950,000 drug addicts in 2022. In contrast, the U.S., with a population less than one-third of China’s, has over 60 million drug addicts. Alarmingly, 90 percent of them have not received any form of drug treatment.
Conceptual Distinctions Between Drugs and Precursor Chemicals
The official also emphasized the United States’ misunderstanding of the difference between drugs and precursor chemicals, as outlined by the United Nations anti-drug conventions. Many chemicals flagged by the U.S. have multiple legitimate industrial uses and are not under U.N. regulations.
Conclusion: Calls for Constructive Cooperation
Wei ended by reaffirming China’s commitment to the international anti-drug regime based on the three UN anti-drug conventions. He urged the U.S. to stop smearing and blaming China, advocating instead for a more cooperative and objective approach to tackling the global drug issue.
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