China executed four Canadians for drug crimes, says Ottawa

Four Canadians were executed successful China connected drug-related charges earlier this year, Canadian authorities person confirmed.

All of them were dual citizens, and their identities person been withheld upon the petition of their families, Canada's overseas curate Mélanie Joly told reporters connected Wednesday.

She condemned the killings arsenic "irreversible and inconsistent with basal quality dignity", adding that she had "asked personally for leniency".

A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy successful Canada said grounds for the Canadian nationals' crimes was "solid and sufficient" and urged Canada to "stop making irresponsible remarks", according to reports.

The Chinese embassy besides added that Beijing had "fully guaranteed the rights and interests of the Canadian nationals concerned" and urged the Canadian authorities to respect "China's judicial sovereignty".

China does not recognise dual citizenship and takes a pugnacious stance connected cause crimes.

Joly said she had been pursuing the cases "very closely" for months and had tried with different officials, including erstwhile premier curate Justin Trudeau, to halt the executions.

In a connection to Canadian media, Global Affairs Canada spokesperson Charlotte MacLeod said Canada had "repeatedly called for clemency for these individuals astatine the senior-most levels and remains steadfast successful its absorption to the usage of the decease punishment successful each cases, everywhere".

China imposes the decease punishment connected superior crimes including those related to drugs, corruption and espionage. While the fig of executions are kept secret, quality rights groups judge China has 1 of the highest execution rates successful the world.

However, it's uncommon for the decease punishment to beryllium carried retired connected foreigners.

The executions revealed this week person sparked criticisms from campaigners.

"These shocking and inhumane executions of Canadian citizens by Chinese authorities should beryllium a wake-up telephone for Canada," said Ketty Nivyabandi from Amnesty International Canada. "We are devastated for the families of the victims, and we clasp them successful our hearts arsenic they effort to process the unimaginable."

"Our thoughts besides spell to the loved ones of Canadian citizens whom China is holding connected decease enactment oregon whose whereabouts successful the Chinese situation strategy are unknown."

In 2019, Canadian nationalist Robert Lloyd Schellenberg was sentenced to decease successful China for cause smuggling - successful a high-profile lawsuit that drew condemnation from Canadian government. He was not among the Canadians that were executed.

"We'll proceed to not lone powerfully condemn but besides inquire for leniency for different Canadians that are facing akin situations," Joly said connected Wednesday.

Relations betwixt Canada and China person been icy since 2018 aft Canada detained a Chinese telecom executive, Meng Wanzhou, connected a US extradition request. China arrested 2 Canadians soon afterwards - though each of them person present been released.

Earlier this year, Canadian media released reports, galore based connected leaked intelligence, astir elaborate claims of Chinese meddling successful the country's past 2 national elections. China has condemned the reports, calling them "baseless and defamatory".

More recently, China imposed retaliatory tariffs connected immoderate Canadian workplace and nutrient imports successful retaliation for Ottawa's levies connected Chinese electrical vehicles, alloy and aluminium.