CHINA / DIPLOMACY
Chinese FM spokesperson responds to former US ambassador Nicholas Burns’ remarks on fentanyl
Published: May 14, 2025 03:54 PM
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian. Photo: Chinese Foreign Ministry

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian. Photo: Chinese Foreign Ministry


In response to media inquiries regarding former US ambassador to China Nicholas Burns' remarks that the US has made it clear to China that failing to coordinate on the fentanyl issue comes at a cost, and China has the capacity to stop the flow of these precursor chemicals, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Wed that "I have just stated China's principled position on the fentanyl tariff issue, and we have also stated many times before that fentanyl is an American problem, not a Chinese problem, and the responsibility lies with the US itself." 

The US has ignored China's goodwill and unreasonably imposed tariffs on fentanyl on China, which has seriously impacted China-US dialogue and cooperation in the field of drug control and seriously damaged China's interests, Lin said. 

Lin said that if the US really wants to cooperate with China, it should stop smearing and blaming China and engage in dialogue with China in an equal, respectful and mutually beneficial manner. "The American people you mentioned disregarded the facts and made such irresponsible fallacies, and we firmly oppose it," Lin said.

Global Times