The fentanyl issue is an issue for the United States, not China, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Thursday, urging the US to "face the facts".

Lin made the remarks at a regular news conference after reports quoted US President Donald Trump as saying that he thinks China will soon sentence people to death for fentanyl manufacturing and distribution.

The US itself is responsible for the fentanyl issue, Lin said.

"The US disregarded China's goodwill by imposing additional ‘fentanyl tariffs' on China. This has impacted China-US counternarcotics dialogue and cooperation, and undermined China's interests," Lin said.

"If the US truly wants to cooperate with China, it should face the facts, and engage in talks with China in an equal, respectful and mutually beneficial manner," he said.