China says fentanyl is US' problem, not China's

The fentanyl issue is United States' problem, not China's, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Friday, urging the US to stop pressuring or threatening China over the issue.

Guo made the remarks after Reuters, citing US officials, reported that talks between the two countries to tackle the issue continue, "even as American negotiators claim the Chinese are failing to negotiate in good faith".

A US official also said US might consider additional punitive measures to compel China to take meaningful action.

Dismissing such remarks at a regular news conference, Guo said the responsibility of the fentanyl issue lies in the US itself, which has "groundlessly slapped tariffs on Chinese imports over the issue while brushing aside China's goodwill".

"The US should understand that it will fail to cover up its own unfulfilled duty by smearing others or returning evil for good, and pressuring or threatening China is by no means the right way to engage with us," he added.