In recent developments, Canada’s Foreign Minister has highlighted the execution of four Canadian citizens in China over the past few months. Such incidents involving Westerners are notably infrequent.
Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly revealed that she, alongside former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, had appealed to Chinese authorities for clemency on behalf of the individuals accused of drug-related crimes. Joly emphasized the rarity of such executions and stressed the involvement of dual citizens.
In response, Beijing’s embassy in Ottawa asserted that the executions were tied to drug offenses, reiterating China’s stance of non-recognition of dual citizenship.
“We express our strong condemnation of these actions,” declared Joly to the press in Ottawa. “I made personal appeals for leniency, given their dual citizenship status.”
Joly underlined Canada’s consistent advocacy for leniency regarding Canadians facing capital punishment abroad. At the behest of the affected families, specific details about the executed individuals remain undisclosed.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Global Affairs, Charlotte MacLeod, affirmed ongoing consular support for the families and pleaded with media outlets to respect their privacy. She also remarked on Ottawa’s continuous efforts to seek clemency for Robert Schellenberg, another Canadian sentenced to death on drug smuggling charges.
A spokesperson from the Chinese embassy highlighted China’s firm stance against drug-related crimes, asserting the solidity of evidence against the Canadians involved.
China is reputed to execute more prisoners annually than any other nation, though precise figures remain a closely guarded state secret. Historically, executions have been conducted by gunshot, with lethal injections being a more recent practice.
The embassy representative insisted that Beijing had “fully ensured the rights and interests of the concerned Canadian nationals,” and urged the Canadian government to avoid making “irresponsible remarks.”
Tensions between the two nations have been evident, with China implementing retaliatory tariffs on certain Canadian agricultural and food products earlier this month. This move followed Canada’s imposition of duties on Chinese-manufactured electric vehicles, as well as steel and aluminum products, in October. The situation adds to the prevailing global trade tensions involving major economies such as the USA, China, Canada, and Mexico.
Guy Saint-Jacques, a former Canadian ambassador to China, commented on China’s actions as a signal for Canada to make amends if relations are to improve.
Ian Brodie, previously the chief aide to ex-Prime Minister Stephen Harper, remarked in a social media post that “agricultural tariffs were surpassed by China’s severe response to the ev tariffs.”
Opposition Conservative lawmaker Michael Chong also expressed concern, stating that the expedited execution of several Canadians signaled Beijing’s disinterest in mending ties with Canada.
China holds the position of Canada’s second-largest trading partner, yet diplomatic relations have been strained since the 2018 arrest of a Huawei executive by Canadian authorities at the behest of the U.S., leading to subsequent charges of fraud.
Following the arrest of Meng Wanzhou, the daughter of Huawei’s founder, China detained two Canadians, releasing them in 2021 on the same day Meng reached an agreement with U.S. authorities. These actions were decried by numerous nations as “hostage politics,” despite China rebutting the allegations against Huawei and Meng as politically motivated attempts to stifle its advancement.
Amnesty International voiced strong disapproval of the executions, pointing out the high number of executions conducted by China in 2023.
Ketty Nivyabandi, head of Amnesty International for English-speaking Canada, labeled the executions as shockingly inhumane and a wake-up call for Canada, in a statement issued on Wednesday.
