China has executed four Canadians over the last few months, Canada’s foreign affairs minister has said.
Melanie Joly said she and former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau asked for clemency in the case of the dual citizens, who were accused of drug-related charges.
Beijing’s embassy in Ottawa said the executions were because of drug crimes and noted China does not recognise dual citizenship.
“We strongly condemn the executions,” Ms Joly said. “I asked personally for leniency … They were all dual citizens.”
A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy said: “China always imposes severe penalties on drug-related crimes.
“The facts of the crimes committed by the Canadian nationals involved in the cases are clear, and the evidence is solid and sufficient.”
China is thought to execute more prisoners each year than the rest of the world combined – though the total number is a state secret.
Traditionally executions are carried out by gunshot, but lethal injections have been introduced in recent years.
The Chinese embassy spokesperson said Beijing “fully guaranteed the rights and interests of the Canadian nationals concerned,” and urged the Canadian government to “stop making irresponsible remarks”.
Ms Joly said Canada consistently seeks clemency for Canadians facing the death penalty abroad.
The families of those executed asked the government to withhold their identities, she added.
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Canada’s global affairs spokesperson Charlotte MacLeod said Ottawa is continuing to ask for clemency for Robert Schellenberg, a Canadian who was sentenced to death for drug smuggling.
Amnesty International condemned the executions, saying China executed thousands of people in 2023.
“These shocking and inhumane executions of Canadian citizens by Chinese authorities should be a wake-up call for Canada,” said Ketty Nivyabandi, the group’s head for English-speaking Canada.
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It comes after China imposed tariffs on some Canadian farm and food imports earlier this month in retaliation for Canadian duties on Chinese-made electric vehicles and steel and aluminium products in October.
Ian Brodie, a former chief of staff to ex-Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper, said it turns out “agricultural tariffs weren’t the worst part of the PRC response to EV tariffs.”
Opposition Conservative lawmaker Michael Chong said “executing a number of Canadians in short order is unprecedented, and is clearly a sign that Beijing has no intention of improving relations with Canada”.
