Canada Reports That China Executed Four Of Its Citizens Earlier This Year Amid Escalating Tensions

China executed four Canadians in recent months, Canada’s foreign affairs minister said March 19. Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly said she and former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asked for clemency in the drug-related accusations involving the dual citizens.

“We strongly condemn the executions,” Joly told reporters in Ottawa. “I asked personally for leniency ... They were all dual citizens.”

Beijing’s embassy in Ottawa said the executions were due to drug crimes and noted that China does not recognize dual citizenship.

Joly stated that Canada consistently advocates for clemency for Canadians facing the death penalty abroad. She also mentioned that the families of the four individuals have requested that their identities remain undisclosed.

Global Affairs spokesperson Charlotte MacLeod emphasized that they are continuing to offer consular support to the families and asked the media to respect their privacy. She also noted that Ottawa is still pushing for clemency for Robert Schellenberg, a Canadian sentenced to death for drug smuggling.

Speaking to news agency AP, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy responded, said, “China enforces strict penalties for drug-related crimes. The facts of the crimes committed by the Canadian nationals involved are clear, with solid and sufficient evidence.”

China is believed to execute more prisoners each year than the rest of the world combined, though the total is a state secret. Executions are traditionally carried out by gunshot, though lethal injections have been introduced in recent years.

The embassy spokesperson said to AP that Beijing “fully guaranteed the rights and interests of the Canadian nationals concerned,” and urged Canada’s government to “stop making irresponsible remarks.”

Rising Tensions

The two countries are experiencing tensions. Earlier this month, China imposed retaliatory tariffs on certain Canadian agricultural and food imports after Canada levied duties on Chinese-made electric vehicles and steel and aluminum products in October. These tariff moves are contributing to growing global trade frictions, with recent tariff actions by the U.S., China, Canada, and Mexico.

China is Canada's second-largest trading partner, but their relationship has been strained since 2018 when Canadian authorities arrested a former Huawei executive at the request of the U.S. on charges of fraud.

In response to Canada’s arrest of Meng Wanzhou, the daughter of Huawei’s founder, China detained two Canadians. These individuals were released and returned to Canada in 2021, the same day Meng returned to China after reaching an agreement with U.S. authorities regarding her case.