We Are Doing Our Part to Combat the Opioid Crisis

（无中文）

Ambassador Cui Tiankai’s Article Published on the USA Today

崔天凯大使在《今日美国报》发表署名文章

30 September 2019

2019年9月30日

In recent months, China and the United States have stepped up co-operation in confronting America’s opioid crisis. China’s own historical experience with opium being pushed upon our people by outsiders has made us very aware of the perils of such interference. Therefore, China is making major strides in stemming the flow of illegal fentanyl-like substances across our borders, and we encourage the U.S. side to continue to attack the demand side of the problem.

近几个月来，中美加强合作应对美国阿片类药物危机。中国在近代曾受到大量外来鸦片的毒害，深知毒品的严重危害性。因此，中方坚决遏止非法芬太尼类物质跨境流动，并已取得重大进展。同时，中方鼓励美方继续解决抑制需求的问题。

President Xi Jinping announced China’s decision to list all fentanyl-like substances as controlled substances in his meeting with President Donald Trump during the G20 Summit in Argentina last December. And since then, China has delivered real results; we have taken comprehensive measures to step up the already stringent control over the substances. We are working to improve enforcement On May 1, China started listing all fentanyl-like substances as controlled substances. As part of the efforts, legal documents for regulating and prosecuting relevant offenses have been formulated. Nationwide investigations and inspections have been conducted on the enterprises and individuals involved in the production of such substances, so as to prevent illegal production.

去年12月，习近平主席在出席二十国集团领导人阿根廷峰会与特朗普总统会晤时，宣布中方决定对芬太尼类物质进行整类列管。此后中方在原有的严控措施基础上，进一步全面加大管控，取得明显成效。今年5月1日，中方开始对芬太尼类物质进行整类列管，并全力推进工作进度，包括制定相关法律法规，在全国范围对涉及生产相关物质的企业和个人开展排查整治，组织集中打击网络贩卖芬太尼类物质的专项行动，督促物流寄递公司落实实名寄递、开箱验视、过机安检“三项制度”，部署重点海关关区加大对高风险国际邮包的查缉力度，阻截走私行为，加快建设有关毒品实验室，加强宣传培训等，确保各项措施落地生效。

Thanks to earnest implementation of these various measures, significant progress has been achieved. According to a White House tweet dated Aug. 30, an official from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) testified that the flow of deadly fentanyl from China has dropped “precipitously”.

目前，中国芬太尼类物质整类列管工作已取得明显成效。美国白宫8月30日发布的一则推文表示，美海关和边境保护局（CBP）一位官员承认，来自中国的芬太尼数量已急剧下降。

The Chinese government takes a zero-tolerance attitude towards drugs and strictly enforces anti-drug policies. Fentanyl-like substances for medical use legally produced in China have never flowed into the United States. Fentanyl products illegally processed for American markets, cracked by China’s law-enforcement agencies, were all results of cross-border collusion, where the substances were disguised or hidden in international packages and mailed to the U.S. The amount involved is very limited.

中国政府对毒品问题始终持“零容忍”态度，一贯奉行严厉禁毒政策。中国厂家合法生产的芬太尼类药物从未流入美国。中国执法部门曾经侦破过非法加工和向美国贩卖非法芬太尼类物质，都是境内外不法分子相勾连，以伪装、夹藏等方式通过国际邮包输往美国的，数量极为有限。

Choking off the flow of illegal substances into the U.S. is a crucial step in combating opioid drug abuse, and China is doing its part. However, we cannot overstate the fundamental importance of preventing drug abuse in addressing the fentanyl issue in the United States. China is voluntarily joining the U.S. in an “all-of-the-above” strategy that counters both supply and demand, and we reject any effort to blame us or lay responsibility for the epidemic at our door.

在打击阿片类药物滥用问题上，切断相关非法物质流入美国至关重要，中方对此将全力以赴。但我们也要充分认识到，防止芬太尼滥用对美解决相关问题存在根本性重要作用。中方愿主动配合美方，共同采取全面举措，打击相关物质的供给和需求，同时我们拒绝任何对中方进行指责和“诿过于人”的做法。

There were media reports weeks ago about a seizure of 23 tons of fentanyl at Mexico’s biggest port, which were alleged to have been shipped from China to the U.S. These reports have been proved false. China, the U.S. and Mexico have all confirmed that the cargo is not fentanyl nor chemicals controlled by the United Nations, the U.S. or China. Of course, the battle against illicit fentanyl-like substances is not over. The case in Mexico is still being investigated. Pinning blame on others is neither constructive nor practical.

曾有媒体报道称，墨西哥执法人员在该国最大港口查获了超过23吨来自中国的芬太尼，最终目的地是美国。相关报道已被证实是虚假的。中、美、墨三国都已确认该批货物不是芬太尼，也不属于联合国、中国或美国管控的物质。当然，打击非法芬太尼类物质的行动并未结束。墨西哥的案子还在调查中。但显然，动辄指责他人的做法不具建设性，也无法解决实际问题。

China stands ready to cooperate and coordinate further with the U.S. on the highly complicated issue of fentanyl-like substance abuse. This must be done on the basis of mutual respect and understanding, not misplaced accusations and unfair recrimination. Working closely on this issue – which touches the lives of millions of Americans – also demonstrates China’s continued efforts for a stronger relationship.

解决芬太尼类物质滥用是一个高度复杂的问题，中方愿就此与美方加强协调与合作，但相关合作应基于相互尊重和理解，要停止无理和不公的指责。芬太尼问题关乎大量美国人的生命，中方在此问题上加强与美方合作，也展示了我们推进更强劲中美关系的不懈努力。