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Canadian officials have confirmed that China has executed four of its citizens in drug-related cases at the beginning of this year. Canada's Foreign Minister Melanie Joly has said that those sentenced to death have dual citizenship and their identities are being kept secret.
As the incident became public, the tension between the two countries has increased. According to the BBC, the spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in Canada has asked Canada to "stop making irresponsible comments". Because of this, the bilateral relations, which have been tense for years, are seen to deteriorate further . The Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that it had taken action against them "in accordance with the law". The embassy claims the Chinese embassy in Ottawa has 'solid and substantial' evidence of their crimes.
Noting that "Beijing fully guarantees the rights and interests of Canadian citizens concerned", the embassy asked Canada to respect "China's judicial sovereignty". China, which does not recognize dual citizenship, has been taking a tough stance on drug-related crimes. But it is considered rare for foreign nationals to be executed in China.
Canadian Foreign Minister Joly has said that she has been "watching these cases very closely for months and has tried through other officials, including former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, to stop the death penalty". Global Affairs Canada spokeswoman Charlotte McLeod said Canada has repeatedly called for clemency for the men at the highest level, but all remain adamant on the death penalty.
China imposes the death penalty for serious crimes including drug, corruption and espionage. Although the number of executions is kept secret, human rights groups say that China has one of the highest death penalty rates in the world. "Such inhumane death sentences that shock Canadian citizens by Chinese authorities should be a wake-up call for Canada," said Katie Nivyabandi of Amnesty International Canada, "We are disappointed for the victims' families."
In 2019, China sentenced Canadian citizen Robert Lloyd Selenberg to death for drug trafficking. It was condemned by the Canadian government. Selenberg was arrested in 2014 and sentenced to 15 years in prison in November 2018.
But a few weeks later, Huawei executive Meng Wangzhou was arrested in Vancouver and relations between the two countries became tense. Soon after, Chinese authorities reopened Sellenberg's case . Selenberg was sentenced to death in January 2019. It was condemned by Canada .
Sellenberg's appeal against the new verdict was rejected in August 2021 . After the verdict, Selenberg's case has been sent to China's Supreme People's Court. All executions in China must be approved by the Supreme Court before execution.
