Beijing has executed at least four Canadian citizens on drug-related charges this year, according to Global Affairs Canada and the Chinese embassy in Ottawa, despite repeated pleas for clemency by the federal government.
While the exact number remains unknown, Global Affairs Canada had confirmed four executions this year outside a cabinet meeting in Ottawa on Wednesday.
According to Global Affairs Canada, all four victims were dual Canadian-Chinese citizens but refused to share any further details about the individuals or their cases out of respect for their families’ privacy.
This story was first reported by the Globe and Mail.
True North contacted China’s Embassy in Ottawa to inquire about the details of the victims’ case and was told that Beijing “maintains a zero tolerance attitude towards the drug problem.”
The embassy confirmed the executions.
“China is a rule of law country. Whoever violates the law of China must be held accountable in accordance with the law,” an embassy spokesperson told True North.
“Drug-related crime is a severe crime recognized worldwide as extremely harmful to the society, and will be faced with severe penalties in all countries. China always imposes severe penalties on drug-related crimes.”
While GAC declined to specify how many Canadians were executed or their identities, Ottawa did confirm that the four mentioned did not include Robert Lloyd Schellenberg.
Schellenberg, originally from Abbotsford, B.C., was sentenced to death for drug smuggling by Chinese authorities in 2019 but is still alive in prison currently.
“The facts of the crimes committed by the Canadian nationals involved in the cases are clear, and the evidence is solid and sufficient. The Chinese judicial authorities have handled the cases in strict accordance with the law, and have fully guaranteed the rights and interests of the Canadian nationals concerned,” wrote the Chinese embassy.
GAC responded by saying that “Canada strongly condemns China’s use of the death penalty, which is irreversible and inconsistent with basic human dignity. Canada repeatedly called for clemency for these individuals at the senior-most levels.”
China is estimated to execute more prisoners annually than the rest of the world combined, however, the actual numbers are a state secret. They are usually done by gunshot, although more recently China has begun using lethal injections.
Ottawa’s relationship with Beijing has been tense for many years now, dating back to 2018 when the Chinese communist government detained two Canadian citizens, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, who have since been released.
Ottawa said it views China as “an increasingly disruptive global power” with “interests and values that increasingly depart from ours.”
Earlier this week, China imposed retaliatory tariffs on some Canadian farm and food imports, following the federal government’s imposed duties on Chinese electric vehicles last fall.
“We urge the Canadian side to respect the rule of law and China’s judicial sovereignty, stop making irresponsible remarks, work in the same direction with China, and jointly promote the improvement and development of China-Canada relations with concrete actions,” wrote the Chinese embassy.