US and China clash over fentanyl at UN meeting
On March 9, a sharp diplomatic dispute erupted at the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna between the United States and China concerning fentanyl. Sara Carter, head of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), accused China of supplying precursors used in fentanyl production and cited weak export controls that enable the chemical industry to cooperate with drug cartels.
Carter also highlighted the negative impact of China's excessive restrictions on rare earth mineral exports affecting the legal industry. In response, Chinese representative Gao Wei denied the accusations as unfounded and stated that “one country” is exploiting the drug issue as a pretext for unilateral pressure and interference in the internal affairs of other nations.
This incident reflects the escalating tensions between two global powers over drug control responsibilities and may further complicate international cooperation in combating narcotics.
