Canada Condemns China’s Execution of Canadian Citizens Over Drug Crimes

The executions, confirmed by Global Affairs Canada, have deepened diplomatic tensions between the two nations, with Ottawa calling for clemency and Beijing defending its judicial sovereignty.

Global Affairs Canada confirmed that an unspecified number of Canadian citizens were executed in China earlier this year for drug-related offenses.
Ottawa has strongly condemned the executions, reiterating its opposition to the death penalty and requesting privacy for the families of those executed.
China’s embassy stated that the convictions were based on solid evidence and emphasized the country’s strict stance on drug-related crimes.
Canada continues to advocate for clemency for Robert Schellenberg, a Canadian sentenced to death in China for drug smuggling, who was not among those executed.
The executions have further strained Canada-China relations, already tense due to trade disputes and past diplomatic conflicts, including the arrest of Meng Wanzhou in 2018.