Gordon Chang, author of "China is Going to War," stated that the level of oversight and surveillance within China indicates that the Chinese government is aware of the fentanyl being exported to North America. Chang shared his statement in an August 27 episode of the China Desk podcast.
"The problem, though, is that this is directed by the regime," said Chang. "For instance, Chinese diplomats actually give cover to the fentanyl gangs and producers. Every container that leaves China is inspected by officials. So it is clear that this is a project on the part of the regime to kill Americans."
According to Chang, China is a "near-total or even total surveillance state," making it impossible for large, international fentanyl manufacturers to operate without the awareness of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). He noted that some fentanyl producers in China are state-owned. Chang expressed skepticism about Chinese President Xi Jinping's commitment to restricting the flow of fentanyl precursors to the U.S., noting that Xi made similar promises to former Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump.
China expert Gordon Chang (left) and Chairman John Moolenaar of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (right)
| X/GordonGChang, X/RepMoolenaar
In 2023, approximately 81,083 Americans died from overdoses involving opioids or synthetic opioids, primarily fentanyl, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.
In April, the Select Committee on the CCP released a report titled "The CCP's Role in the Fentanyl Crisis," which disclosed findings from investigations into the manufacturing and export of fentanyl precursors. The report stated that the CCP "directly subsidizes the manufacturing and export of illicit fentanyl materials and other synthetic narcotics through tax rebates." These tax rebates occur despite many fentanyl precursors being illegal under Chinese law. The investigation also found that the CCP "gave monetary grants and awards to companies openly trafficking illicit fentanyl materials and other synthetic narcotics."
Gabriel Noronha, executive director of Polaris National Security and a former special advisor to the State Department, said on an episode of the China Desk podcast that he found fentanyl precursors readily available for purchase and shipping to the U.S. on a Chinese website. "I went on madeinchina.com, which is an e-commerce site in China, searched for fentanyl precursors, and found them on the website," Noronha said. "They say they offer discreet shipping to Indiana, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio, Mexico, Prague—wherever you want it. They will get it there and they have screenshots showing successful purchases [to those locations]. Hundreds of Americans are dying every day."
Chang is a writer on topics pertaining to China, Asia, and nuclear proliferation. He has authored two Random House books: "The Coming Collapse of China" and "Nuclear Showdown: North Korea Takes On The World." His insights have been featured in publications including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, Commentary, and The Weekly Standard.
