The Biden administration has lifted sanctions against China’s Institute of Forensic Science (IFS) as a concession following Chinese President Xi Jinping’s promise to halt deadly fentanyl production.
The move is seen as an effort to encourage further action against fentanyl trafficking.
Despite concerns about IFS’s involvement in human rights abuses, the decision was made to facilitate cooperation on fentanyl trafficking. (Trending: ‘The View’ Host Suffers Anti-Trump Melt Down For the Ages)
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“It became clear to us in conversations with the PRC dating back to the conversations that the Secretary launched in June when he traveled to Beijing that the continued listing of the IFS on the Commerce Entity List was a barrier to achieving cooperation on stopping the trafficking of precursor chemicals,” State Department spokesman Matt Miller stated.
“And so when we evaluated the issue and looked at all the merits of delisting the IFS, ultimately we decided that given the steps China was willing to take to cut down on precursor trafficking, it was an appropriate step to take,” he added.
“When you look at the decision we had to make, we ultimately decided that the listing of the IFS on this Commerce Entity List was a barrier to taking action that would save thousands and thousands of American lives,” he said.
“And so we have to make tough decisions in this administration, and the decision that we made was that when you looked at the potential of saving American lives by securing this cooperation with China on fentanyl, on fentanyl trafficking, it was an appropriate step to take.”
“Now, it’s not the end of the story,” he added.
“We’re going to watch how China complies with the commitments that they made to us.”
“We’re going to continue to talk with them about other steps they can take, and we will continue to hold them accountable for their human rights record.”
The lifting of sanctions has been portrayed differently in Chinese state media, with the regime expecting no further criticism on human rights in exchange for this action.
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