China has America in a chokehold with 90% of our medicines – and they’re tightening their grip right before our eyes.
At a Glance
- China manufactures approximately 90% of America’s antibiotics, putting U.S. national security at serious risk
- The last U.S. penicillin factory closed in 2004, leaving America entirely dependent on foreign sources
- China has already weaponized rare-earth minerals exports, and medicines could be next
- Quality control issues have been repeatedly found in Chinese drug manufacturing facilities
- National security experts warn that a Chinese medicine embargo could cripple U.S. hospitals within days
America’s Dangerous Dependence
The shocking reality is that America has become dangerously dependent on an adversarial nation for its most critical lifesaving medications. Over the past 25 years, manufacturing of generic drugs, which account for 90% of all prescriptions filled in America, has moved almost entirely to China. This transfer happened right under our noses while both parties in Washington looked the other way, leaving us vulnerable to what could become a catastrophic national security threat.
Most Americans remain completely unaware that China now controls virtually our entire supply chain for antibiotics, blood pressure medicines, antidepressants, and countless other essential drugs. When the last U.S. penicillin factory shuttered in 2004, it marked a devastating milestone in our pharmaceutical surrender. Now, we’re completely at the mercy of Chinese manufacturing for medications that millions of Americans rely on daily.
Weaponizing Medicine Against America
National security experts have been sounding the alarm for years about this dangerous arrangement. “If China shut the door on exports of medicines and their key ingredients and raw material, U.S. hospitals and military hospitals and clinics would cease to function within months, if not days,” warned Rosemary Gibson, author and healthcare expert.
This isn’t merely theoretical. China has already demonstrated its willingness to use exports as geopolitical weapons. Just this year, China suspended exports of rare-earth minerals and magnets, which are crucial components for manufacturing fighter jets, drones, and other essential military technologies. They’ve shown their hand – and medicines could easily be next.
Gary Cohn, former National Economic Council Director, put it bluntly: “If you’re the Chinese and you really want to destroy us, just stop sending us antibiotics.”
Quality Concerns and Contamination
Beyond the security threat, there’s a serious quality control issue with Chinese pharmaceutical manufacturing. FDA inspections have repeatedly uncovered alarming problems in Chinese facilities, from contaminated products to falsified testing data. In 2008, contaminated heparin from China resulted in at least 81 deaths in the United States, showcasing the very real danger of relying on foreign drug sources with inadequate oversight.
“If the enemy releases anthrax and they control the antidote, it would cause complete disruption to American society and to our national security,” warned Brigadier General John Adams, USA (Ret).
Despite these risks, imports of Chinese pharmaceuticals and active drug ingredients have actually increased since 2020. Rather than addressing this vulnerability, we’ve been deepening our dependence on an adversary who has openly threatened us. The Strategic Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients Reserve, which was meant to protect us from exactly this scenario, remains dangerously underfilled.
President Trump’s Solutions
During his first term, President Trump recognized this threat and took action, using the Defense Production Act to boost domestic production of medical supplies. He understood that relying on China for critical medical needs was a strategic mistake that no superpower should make. Now back in office, Trump is continuing his America First approach to bring pharmaceutical manufacturing back home.
Senator Tom Cotton has introduced legislation to boost domestic drug production and limit Chinese drug imports by 2030, a step in the right direction. But more aggressive action is needed. Some experts advocate imposing tariffs on Chinese medications to make domestic production economically viable again. Empty manufacturing facilities across America could be refurbished and repurposed for pharmaceutical production with the right incentives and public support.
A Matter of National Survival
The question Americans need to ask isn’t just about drug prices anymore – it’s about whether we’ll have access to medicines at all during a crisis or conflict. China has made it abundantly clear that they view their economic relationships through a geopolitical lens. Their state-run media has already threatened that America “will fall into the hell of a new coronavirus pneumonia epidemic” if they choose to cut off supplies.
This isn’t just about healthcare – it’s about national security and sovereignty. A country that cannot produce its own essential medicines is not truly independent. The current situation is nothing short of madness, allowing a strategic competitor to control the very medications that keep our military, our healthcare system, and our citizens alive. The time for action is now, before China decides to tighten the noose they’ve placed around America’s pharmaceutical supply chain.
