China executed four Canadian citizens for drug-related crimes, an act that, according to Canada’s Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly, could further strain the already tense relations between the two countries.
Joly strongly condemned the executions and assured that the government would continue seeking clemency for other Canadians in similar situations. “We will continue to engage with China, not only to express our firm condemnation but also to plead for clemency for other citizens at risk,” she stated.
The Chinese embassy in Ottawa did not provide details about the executions but defended the country’s strict penalties for drug-related crimes. The Globe and Mail was the first to report on the events, citing Canada’s Global Affairs Department, which confirmed the news in response to an inquiry from the newspaper. According to the report, the executions took place earlier this year.
Joly also revealed that both she and former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had requested clemency from Beijing in recent months to prevent the executions. She explained that the executed individuals held dual Canadian and Chinese citizenship, though China does not recognize dual nationality.
In a statement cited by The Globe and Mail, the Canadian government described the executions as “incompatible with basic human dignity.” Canada’s Global Affairs Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The New York Times.
John Kamm, founder of the Dui Hua Foundation, a San Francisco-based human rights group that advocates for individuals sentenced to death in China, said he had been working on behalf of the four Canadian citizens but could not reveal their identities due to privacy concerns. According to Kamm, all four were men, and their cases were handled in Guangdong province. He also noted that it is “very unusual” for China to execute four foreigners in such a short period.
The Canadians’ sentences had been under judicial review in China for two years before the executions were carried out.
Relations between Canada and China have deteriorated since 2018, when Beijing arrested Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig following the detention of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver at the request of the United States. The imprisonment of the two Canadians was widely seen as a “hostage diplomacy” tactic by China. Ultimately, in 2021, Spavor and Kovrig were released after Meng’s return to China.
In recent years, Trudeau and his government have taken a tougher stance against China, openly criticizing its human rights record and expressing concerns over alleged Chinese interference in Canadian affairs. Reports have also surfaced about illegal funding of candidates in Canadian elections.
Joly has described China as “an increasingly disruptive global power” and has warned Canadian businesses about the risks of operating in the Asian country. Recently, Canada has taken steps to restrict the entry of Chinese products, including imposing a 100% tariff on electric vehicles made in China, aligning with U.S. policies.
On Wednesday, Joly explained that the names of the four executed Canadians were not disclosed out of respect for their families’ privacy. She also noted that, according to Chinese authorities, the executed individuals were facing drug-related charges.
The Chinese embassy in Ottawa insisted that the cases were handled in accordance with the law and urged Canada to “respect China’s judicial sovereignty and refrain from making irresponsible comments.” “The facts of the crimes committed by the Canadian citizens involved are clear, and the evidence is solid and sufficient,” the embassy stated in a release.
Another Canadian, Robert Lloyd Schellenberg, also faces the death penalty in China for drug trafficking. Initially sentenced to 15 years in prison, his sentence was upgraded to capital punishment in a single-day retrial in 2019, one month after Meng’s arrest in Canada.
Maya Wang, deputy director for China at Human Rights Watch, warned about the risks faced by foreigners in the country. “Anyone in China can be subjected to arbitrary detentions and unfair trials,” she stated. “The number of cases is really large, but we only hear about a few from time to time.”
Lynette Ong, a professor of Chinese politics at the University of Toronto, noted that after the release of the two Michaels, many had hoped for an improvement in Canada-China relations, but this has not materialized significantly. According to Ong, the timing of these executions suggests that Beijing seeks to maintain pressure and leverage in bilateral negotiations with Canada.
