China strongly condemns the U.S.'s charges on Chinese citizens and companies over allegedly producing, distributing and selling precursor chemicals to make Fentanyl, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry on Saturday.

The U.S. Justice Department on Friday filed criminal charges against four Chinese companies and eight individuals over allegations they illegally trafficked the precursor chemicals used to make fentanyl.

"This is typical arbitrary detention and unilateral sanction, which is completely illegal," the ministry said in a statement.

It said the U.S. law enforcement personnel ensnared Chinese nationals through a "sting operation" in a third country and blatantly pressed charges against Chinese entities and individuals.

"It seriously harms the basic human rights of the Chinese nationals and the interests of the Chinese companies concerned."

The ministry said "Such long-arm jurisdiction and bullying that tramples on international law has further undermined the lawful rights and interests of relevant Chinese institutions and nationals, and seriously undercut the foundation for China-U.S. cooperation on counter-narcotics."

China is an active participant in international counter-narcotics cooperation as it scheduled all fentanyl-related substances to strict management and control since 2019, the first country to do so. Such action has played an important role in preventing the illicit manufacturing, trafficking and abuse of fentanyl, said the ministry.

The ministry described the U.S.'s actions as"scapegoating", urging it "to stop shifting the blame, stop smearing and attacking China, immediately lift all sanctions on Chinese counter-narcotics law enforcement institutions, stop using fentanyl-related issues as a pretext to sanction, indict or offer awards to hunt Chinese companies or nationals, stop the arbitrary detentions, and immediately release the Chinese nationals under illegal arrest."