During the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in San Francisco, U.S. President Joe Biden and Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador pledged to work together to tackle the fentanyl and migration crises. Biden expressed his appreciation for López Obrador's partnership and acknowledged the challenges of dealing with migration along the US-Mexican border. López Obrador vowed to address the trafficking and production of fentanyl as an act of solidarity. The leaders agreed to sustain and expand cooperation in managing migration in the Western Hemisphere. The United States has seen record numbers of illegal border crossings, and Biden has taken a tougher stance on border policies. China and Mexico discussed expanding cooperation on sectors including electric vehicles. The US has alleged that precursor chemicals for fentanyl are made by Mexican drug cartels, while Mexico has stated that the ingredients come from Asia. The APEC summit concluded with a joint communique focusing on renewable energy and trade, but without agreement on the Israel-Gaza conflict and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Biden's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping was a highlight of the summit, where they agreed to restore military-to-military communications and address the fentanyl trade. Both the US and China courted Mexico's López Obrador, highlighting the country's strategic importance. Illegal immigration has become a major political issue for Biden, and he has taken a tougher stance recently, requesting border funds and announcing plans to extend the border wall with Mexico. China also called for expanded cooperation with Mexico on sectors including electric vehicles.
In a separate development, President Biden has faced criticism for lifting sanctions on China's forensic science institute, the Chinese Ministry of Public Security's Institute of Forensic Science (IFS), which was previously blacklisted in 2020 for alleged human rights abuses against Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in Xinjiang. The move was part of a deal to encourage China to take action against the outflow of fentanyl precursors. Critics argue that the decision undermines the U.S. commitment to human rights and raises questions about the treatment of Uyghurs. Human rights lawyer Rayhan Asat called the decision insulting, while Kenneth Roth, former executive director of Human Rights Watch, described it as a bribe to China. The Biden administration sees the lifting of sanctions as a crucial step in fostering international cooperation to address drug trafficking and abuse.
Meanwhile, McDonald's Corporation is facing criticism for its partnership with the Chinese government amid concerns about human rights abuses. The National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC) presented a "Congruency Report on Human Rights" to McDonald's, questioning the misalignment of its stated policies on human rights with its actions, particularly in oppressive governments such as China. NLPC filed a detailed report with the Securities and Exchange Commission in support of the proposal. McDonald's has been expanding in China and aims to have at least 10,000 restaurants there by 2028. The U.S. State Department has accused the Chinese government of atrocities including genocide, forced sterilization, forced abortions, organ harvesting, and torture. NLPC questions how McDonald's can claim to protect human rights while being in a near-equal business partnership with a Chinese government-owned entity. The bipartisan Congressional-Executive Commission on China says it is impossible for companies to conduct legitimate audits to determine if slave labor is embedded in their supply chains. Members of the commission plan to demand more specific risk disclosures from corporations on this issue. [de4dbeca]