This year four Canadian citizens were executed in China after being convicted of drug smuggling, according to Reuters.

 All four held dual Canadian-Chinese citizenship. Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly confirmed the executions on Wednesday, March 19, and stated that the Canadian government is in communication with Beijing to seek clemency for other Canadian citizens facing similar charges.

China defended its actions, stating it acted “in accordance with the law.”

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Execution of Canadian Citizens Denounced

Mélanie Joly strongly criticized China’s decision, emphasizing that Canada had been pleading for leniency since the convictions.

“We strongly condemn the executions that did happen against Canadians in China,” Joly said.

She refrained from discussing further details out of respect for the victims' families.

Marc Garneau, former Canadian foreign minister, also condemned China’s actions, stating, “Canada strongly condemns China's decision to uphold the death penalty sentence. We have repeatedly expressed to China our firm opposition to this cruel and inhumane punishment.”

Beijing Defends the Death Penalty

Chinese officials justified the executions by highlighting their strict drug policies.

“Combating drug crimes is the common responsibility of all countries,” said Mao Ning, China’s foreign ministry spokesman.

China’s embassy also released a statement defending its policies.

“Drug-related crime is a severe crime recognized worldwide as extremely harmful to society. China always imposes severe penalties on drug-related crimes and maintains a ‘zero tolerance’ attitude towards the drug problem,” the statement read.

China remains secretive about its execution statistics, though Amnesty International and other rights groups estimate thousands of executions occur annually.

Strained Relations Between Canada and China

The executions further strain the already tense diplomatic relationship between Canada and China. Several events over recent years have fueled tensions, including:

• The 2018 arrest of a senior Chinese telecom executive in Vancouver on a U.S. warrant, led to China detaining two Canadians on espionage charges.
• Canada’s criticism of China’s security crackdown in Hong Kong and treatment of the Uyghur Muslim minority.
• Allegations of Chinese interference in Canadian elections in 2019 and 2021.
• The expulsion of a Chinese diplomat from Canada in 2023 was based on accusations that he had targeted a Canadian opposition politician and his family.

China’s recent sentencing of a former Chinese engineer to death for allegedly leaking state secrets to a foreign power has also raised concerns about the country’s strict penal policies.