US' entity list revisions a step towards bilateral cooperation

An official from China's National Narcotics Laboratory recently applauded the decision by the United States government to remove the laboratory from its entity list and expressed hope that such unwarranted actions will not recur, urging the US to instead foster mutual progress and cooperation in counter-narcotics efforts.

In May 2020, the US Department of Commerce added the Ministry of Public Security's Institute of Forensic Science, including the National Narcotics Laboratory of China, to its list, leading to restrictions on most goods from US suppliers. This move significantly strained anti-drug collaboration between the two nations.

The US sanctions dealt a severe blow to the foundation of bilateral anti-drug cooperation, leaving personnel at the laboratory bewildered and dissatisfied, as stated by Hua Zhendong, an official from the first division of drug analysis at the National Narcotics Laboratory, in an interview with CGTN.

In November, the US government removed the Institute of Forensic Science and the National Narcotics Laboratory of China from its "Entity List", lifting the imposed sanctions. This action is perceived as a positive step towards reigniting bilateral counternarcotics cooperation.

Hua pointed out that the US has faced a significant crisis of fentanyl-related substance abuse in recent years. However, the root cause lies entirely within the US, especially the earlier relaxation of controls on opioid prescription drugs. This led to a substantial population of abusers and subsequently contributed to the misuse of fentanyl-related substances.

China, in a humanitarian spirit, actively engages in controlling fentanyl-related substances, he said. The laboratory has monitored the illegal production and trafficking of these substances, conducted research on scheduling definitions for fentanyl-related substances, and contributed extensively to establishing sentencing standards for various fentanyl-related substances from the very beginning.

"The inclusion of our laboratory in the sanctions by the US has posed significant obstacles to our research efforts," he said.

Hua disclosed that before the sanctions, numerous US officials, including members of Congress, the Office of National Drug Control Policy under the White House, and delegations from the US Drug Enforcement Administration, visited the laboratory. They highly praised its role in controlling fentanyl-related substances.

However, the US sanctions substantially impeded many activities of the laboratory, posing obstacles not only to China's progress but also adversely affecting anti-drug efforts in the US. This has resulted in significant damage to bilateral anti-drug cooperation, he said.

"We welcome the US government's decision to remove our laboratory from the entity list and hope that such actions, unfavorable to the progress of both parties, will not be repeated in the future. We look forward to fostering mutual progress and cooperation for the development of a healthier path forward," he said.