Canadian authorities have confirmed that four Canadians were executed in China earlier this year on drug-related charges. The identities of the individuals, all of whom held dual citizenship, have been withheld, according to Canada's Foreign Minister, Mélanie Joly.
A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Canada urged Ottawa to "stop making irresponsible remarks," amid concerns that this incident could lead to further deterioration in relations between the two countries, which have already been under strain for years. On Thursday, China’s foreign ministry stated that the executions were carried out "by the law," asserting that sufficient evidence existed for the crimes committed.
The Chinese embassy declared that Beijing had "fully guaranteed the rights and interests" of the Canadians involved and encouraged Canada to respect "China's judicial sovereignty." China does not recognize dual citizenship and maintains a strict approach to drug offenses. While the death penalty for foreigners is rare, it is still a possibility.
Minister Joly reported that she had closely followed the cases for months and had collaborated with other officials, including former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in efforts to prevent the executions. In a statement to Canadian media, Charlotte MacLeod, a Global Affairs Canada spokesperson, said that Canada had consistently advocated for clemency for these individuals at the highest levels and remained firmly opposed to the death penalty in all cases worldwide.
China imposes the death penalty for serious crimes, including those related to drugs, corruption, and espionage. Although the exact number of executions is not disclosed, human rights organizations believe that China has one of the highest execution rates globally.
Ketty Nivyabandi from Amnesty International Canada described the executions as "shocking and inhumane," calling for Canada to take this as a wake-up call. She expressed her condolences to the families of the victims and emphasized the concern for other Canadian citizens who are either on death row in China or whose whereabouts within the Chinese prison system remain unknown.
In 2019, Canadian citizen Robert Lloyd Schellenberg was sentenced to death in China for drug smuggling, a case that drew condemnation from the Canadian government; however, he was not among those executed recently. Minister Joly stated on Wednesday that Canada would continue to strongly condemn such actions and advocate for leniency for other Canadians facing similar situations.
Relations between Canada and China have been tense since 2018 when Canada detained Chinese telecom executive Meng Wanzhou at the request of the U.S. for extradition. This led to the arrest of two Canadians in China, both of whom have since been released.
In 2023, Canadian media reported, based on leaked intelligence, detailed allegations of Chinese interference in the country’s federal elections. China has denied these allegations, labeling them as "baseless and defamatory." Additionally, China recently imposed retaliatory tariffs on certain Canadian agricultural and food imports after Canada levied tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, steel, and aluminum.