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MUNICH (AP) — Top diplomats from the U.S. and China on Friday held a “candid and constructive” discussion on issues vexing their strained relations over Taiwan, the situation in the South China Sea, Russia’s war against Ukraine and synthetic opioids, the State Department said. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Blinken had emphasized the importance of maintaining peace in the Taiwan Strait as well as expanding on nascent counternarcotics efforts. Blinken also raised concerns about China's support for Russia’s defense industrial base that Washington sees as helping Moscow’s military operations against Ukraine. “The two sides had a candid and constructive discussion on a range of bilateral, regional and global issues as part of ongoing efforts to maintain open lines of communication and responsibly manage competition in the relationship,” Miller said. Photos You Should See View All 33 Images“Both sides recognized the importance of maintaining open lines of communication between the United States and (China) across a range of strategic issues, including consultations and high-level meetings in key areas in the coming months,” he said.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Wang Yi, Joe Biden, Matthew Miller, Blinken, ” Miller, Blinken “, ” Organizations: —, State Department, Foreign, Munich, California . State Department, Washington, Ukraine, North Locations: MUNICH, U.S, China, Taiwan, South China, Ukraine, California ., Taiwan Strait, United States, North Korea

☆ Seizures of Psychedelic Mushrooms Rise in U.S. as Demand Grows
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Ernesto Londoño | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Seizures of psychedelic mushrooms across the nation by law enforcement officials have increased significantly in recent years as attitudes regarding their use have grown more permissive, according to a government-funded study released Tuesday. Researchers found that law enforcement officials confiscated 844 kilos of mushrooms containing psilocybin in 2022, an increase of 273 percent from 2017. Psilocybin is the psychoactive component in the fungi commonly known as magic mushrooms. The marketplace for magic mushrooms, which are illegal under federal law, has boomed in recent years as several clinical studies have shown that they may be effective as therapies to treat depression and other serious conditions. But many medical professionals say they worry that the hype surrounding psychedelics has moved faster than the science.

Organizations: National Institute on Drug

☆ U.S.-China fentanyl talks get off to a 'productive' start, security advisor says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Chinese Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong (C) announces the launch of the U.S.-China Counternarcotics Working Group next to U.S. Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Homeland Security Advisor Jen Daskal (center L) at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on January 30, 2024. Ng Han Guan | Afp | Getty ImagesBEIJING — The U.S. and China had a "productive" first day of talks in Beijing about the fentanyl crisis, Jennifer Daskal, a deputy homeland security advisor, told NBC News' Janis Mackey Frayer in an exclusive interview Tuesday. "We're looking for results and we had a productive step forward," Daskal said, while acknowledging the risk that China could use its sway over the fentanyl supply chain as a bargaining chip. Daskal, leader of the White House delegation for this week's high-level talks, said the diversity of representatives from both sides "showed a real commitment." "We will know if it works if we start seeing the supply of precursor drugs diminish, if we start seeing the supply of pill presses and other equipment diminish," Daskal said.

Persons: of Public Security Wang Xiaohong, Jen Daskal, Ng, Guan, Jennifer Daskal, Janis Mackey Frayer, Daskal, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Wang Xiaohong, Wang, Biden, Hua Zhendong, Mackey, Hua, Yu Haibin, Yu, NBC's Mackey Frayer Organizations: of Public Security, U.S ., Homeland, Getty, NBC News, National Narcotics Control Commission, Public Security, Public Security's Institute of Forensic Science, China -, Counternarcotics, White House, International Narcotics Control Locations: U.S, China, Diaoyutai, Beijing, Afp, BEIJING, The U.S, Mexico, Washington, San Francisco

One focus of the talks was fentanyl, the synthetic opioid that is ravaging America, and in particular ingredients for the drug that are made in China. The U.S. wants China to do more to curb the export of chemicals that it says are processed into fentanyl, largely in Mexico, before the final product is smuggled into the United States. But China refused to discuss cooperation unless the U.S. lifted sanctions on the Public Security Ministry's Institute of Forensic Science. The U.S. quietly agreed to lift the sanctions to get cooperation on fentanyl. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller called it “an appropriate step to take” given what China was willing to do on the trafficking of fentanyl precursors.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, Wang Xiaohong, ”, Jen Daskal, Biden, Nancy Pelosi, Wang Yi, Matthew Miller Organizations: BEIJING, Chinese Public Security, U.S ., U.S, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, ., Biden, Senate, Public Security Ministry's Institute of Forensic Science, The Commerce Department, State Department Locations: U.S, America, China, San Francisco, Taiwan, Mexico, United States, Beijing, China’s Xinjiang, The U.S

☆ Beijing intensifies military pressure on Taiwan as U.S.-China talks resume
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-27 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

From 6 a.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Saturday local time, China sent 33 military aircraft and six naval vessels toward Taiwan, according to Taiwan's Defense Ministry. For example, at their meeting, Sullivan and Wang confirmed the plan to launch a collaborative U.S.-China "Counternarcotics Working Group" on Tuesday to address the fentanyl crisis. The contentious issue comes up at nearly every U.S.-China meeting, including the high-profile talks between President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping in November. China's military pressure on Taiwan comes during what senior administration officials have called "a period of higher tension." Lai was China's least favorite candidate due to his support of maintaining Taiwan's status quo.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, Jake Sullivan, Wang Yi, Sullivan, Wang, Mr, Lai Ching, Lai Organizations: U.S, Foreign, Taiwan's Defense Ministry, Democratic Progressive Party, U.S . Locations: Filoli, U.S ., California, Beijing, Taiwan, China, Taiwan Strait, U.S, United States, PRC, Bangkok

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping, fresh off his meeting with President Joe Biden, courted Indo-Pacific leaders in a flurry of meetings Thursday at a time of intensifying competition with the United States. Xi held individual talks with the leaders of Mexico, Peru, Fiji, Japan and Brunei, all on the sidelines of a summit of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation economies. In a meeting with Peruvian President Dina Boluarte, Xi said the two countries should strengthen economic and trade cooperation and pledged China’s support for Peru as host of next year’s summit of APEC leaders. Earlier, Xi held talks with Andrés Manuel López Obrador, praising the Mexican president for his leadership and reform efforts and pledging to bring the China-Mexico relationship to a new level. Xi called Hassanal Bolkiah, Brunei’s sultan, an “old friend” and said China would work with Brunei to bring benefits to both people.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, Xi, Dina Boluarte, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, López Obrador, —, Hurricane Otis, “, ” Xi, Sitiveni Rabuka, ”, Fumio Kishida, Kishida, Biden Organizations: FRANCISCO, Economic Cooperation, APEC, U.S, Fiji's, Japanese Locations: United States, Mexico, Peru, Fiji, Japan, Brunei, Asia, China, American, Latin America, Beijing, Brunei’s

Experts say new steps China has agreed to will eventually reduce the flow of the deadly opioid fentanyl into the U.S., but that alone will not stem the overdose crisis killing Americans at a record rate. Synthetic opioids are now the biggest killers in the deadliest drug crisis the U.S. has ever seen. More than two-thirds of those deaths — more than 200 per day — involved fentanyl or similar synthetic drugs. It's in counterfeit pills and cocaine, in some cases causing overdoses in people who have no idea that they're using fentanyl. A growing number of places are allowing drug screening kits so users can find out if their drugs include fentanyl.

Persons: Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, ”, Adam Wandt, “, Wandt, Kevin Roy, ” Roy, Rahul Gupta, it’s, Donald Trump, It's, Xi, ” Biden, Xi’s, Wang Wenbin, they're, we’re, Regina LaBelle, Biden, Andres Manuel Lopez, LaBelle, Didi Tang Organizations: John Jay College of Criminal, of National Drug Control, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, San Francisco Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry, International Narcotics, U.S, Georgetown University’s O’Neill, Associated Locations: China, U.S, California, America, Mexico, U.S . China, San Francisco, United States

☆ China President Xi meets Biden for the first time in a year
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING — U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping met Wednesday outside of San Francisco in their first face-to-face encounter in a year. "We have to ensure that competition does not veer into conflict," Biden said at the start of the summit. "Critical global challenges we face, from climate change to counternarcotics to artificial intelligence, demand our joint efforts." Biden and Xi were widely expected to discuss issues such as curbing fentanyl flows into the U.S., safe use of artificial intelligence, and U.S. restrictions on Chinese access to high-end tech. "For two large countries like China and the United States, turning their back on each other is not an option," Xi said in his opening remarks.

Persons: Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Biden, Xi Organizations: Economic Cooperation, U.S Locations: BEIJING, U.S, San Francisco, Asia, China, United States

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The U.S. Treasury has announced sanctions against nine affiliates of Mexico’s Sinaloa drug trafficking cartel, as well as the current leader of Colombia’s powerful Clan del Golfo criminal enterprise. The Office of Foreign Assets Control designated all 10 for their roles in drug trafficking, meaning any of their assets in the United States will be blocked and U.S. citizens are generally prohibited from dealing with any of their assets. The nine affiliates of the Sinaloa cartel follow a U.S. indictment unsealed in April that targeted a branch of the Sinaloa cartel run by the sons of former leader Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. Mexico extradited one of those sons, Ovidio Guzmán López, earlier this month to the United States. “Today’s actions reinforce the United States’ whole of government approach to saving lives by disrupting illicit drug supply chains,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

Persons: del, Joaquín “, Ovidio Guzmán López, Antony Blinken, de Jesus Avila Villadiego, “ Chiquito, ”, U.S . Avila, Avila Organizations: MEXICO CITY, U.S . Treasury, Foreign Assets Control, Colombian, de, U.S ., Southern District of, of Locations: MEXICO, U.S, Sinaloa, United States, Guzmán, Mexico, Colombia, Bogota, Avila, Southern District, Southern District of Florida, Eastern, of New York

☆ Analysis-Republican-Proposed Attacks on Mexican Cartels Could Lead to American Casualties
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +6 min

They argued that cartels could retaliate in U.S. territory and U.S. troops and Mexican civilians could die in firefights with heavily armed cartel members. This could create the blowback effect of fracturing the cartels," said a U.S. military officer with experience in Mexico, speaking on condition of anonymity. In a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll, 52% of respondents supported "sending U.S. military personnel to Mexico to fight against drug cartels," while 26% were opposed. Still, most Americans - including most Republicans - said they would oppose such actions if the Mexican government did not approve, the poll found. It would be easy to send them in, a couple of (special forces) teams that could go and extract in extraordinary renditions," said the military officer.

Persons: Jonathan Landay, Idrees Ali, Gram Slattery WASHINGTON, Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Earl Anthony Wayne, Joaquin, El, Guzman, Jason Blazakis, Mark Esper, Trump, Esper, We're, Haley, Alex Conant, Marco Rubio's, Sergio Alcocer, Alcocer, Gram Slattery, Dave Graham, Ross Colvin, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Republican, Reuters, U.S . Customs, U.S . Centers for Disease, State Department, U.S, SEAL, Woodrow Wilson International Center, IDEA, Trump Locations: Mexico, Trump , Florida, United States, U.S, firefights, Culiacan, New Jersey, Mexican, North America, Mexico City

Persons: Daniel Becerril, Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Earl Anthony Wayne, Joaquin, El, Guzman, Jason Blazakis, Mark Esper, Trump, Esper, We're, Haley, Alex Conant, Marco Rubio's, Sergio Alcocer, Alcocer, Jonathan Landay, Idrees Ali, Gram Slattery, Dave Graham, Ross Colvin, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Villa Union, REUTERS, Rights, Republican, Reuters, U.S . Customs, U.S . Centers for Disease, State Department, U.S, SEAL, Woodrow Wilson International Center, IDEA, Trump, Thomson Locations: Villa, Coahuila, Mexico, Trump , Florida, United States, U.S, firefights, Culiacan, New Jersey, Mexican, North America, Mexico City

☆ Intelligence Board Recommends Curbing F.B.I.’s Power to Use Surveillance Program
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( Charlie Savage | More About Charlie Savage | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The White House was studying the recommendation, a senior administration official said in a background briefing on Monday. The program traces back to a once secret warrantless surveillance program that the George W. Bush administration started after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. After the program was exposed, Congress legalized a version of it. The U.S. government can currently use the program to gather information about other governments, counterterrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. How the government can use its database of intercepts that have been already collected when scrutinizing Americans has been a subject of heated debate.

Persons: “, George W, Bush Organizations: Google, National Security Agency Locations: U.S

☆ Global Supply of Cocaine Hits Record Level, U.N. Says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Talal Ansari | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Counternarcotics police during an eradication operation in Colombia in 2020. The global supply of cocaine has hit a record level, according to a new United Nations report. One of the main drivers behind the increased supply is a rise in cultivation of coca, the plant from which the drug is made, the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime said in a report released Thursday. Cultivation rose 35% from 2020 to 2021, the sharpest year-to-year increase since 2016, the organization said.

☆ Blinken Presses Russia’s Lavrov in Unscheduled G-20 Discussion
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Vivian Salama | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

NEW DELHI—Secretary of State Antony Blinken held his first face-to-face conversation with his Russian counterpart on the sidelines of a meeting of foreign ministers from the Group of 20, while Russia and China blocked the gathering’s effort to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The summit in India’s capital on Thursday was aimed at addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges, from food and fuel security to counternarcotics and climate change. While the bloc reached agreement on many of those issues, the war in Ukraine proved itself an obstacle to any genuine consensus among members of the world’s 20 largest economies, raising questions about the effectiveness of the forum.

HONG KONG — Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s first two terms in power were marked by intensifying competition and tensions with the United States. The United States does not seek conflict with China, Biden told a meeting of his top military advisers Wednesday. “China stands ready to work with the United States to find the right way to get along with each other in the new era,” he said. But China under Xi has a “superficial stability,” Johnson said. Hulton Deutsch / Corbis via Getty ImagesAt 69, Xi has appointed no obvious successor, indicating he may plan to stay in power indefinitely.

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