China has executed 4 Canadians over the previous couple of months, Canada’s international affairs minister has mentioned.
Melanie Joly mentioned she and former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau requested for clemency within the case of the twin residents, who have been accused of drug-related fees.
Beijing’s embassy in Ottawa mentioned the executions have been due to drug crimes and famous China doesn’t recognise twin citizenship.
“We strongly condemn the executions,” Ms Joly mentioned. “I requested personally for leniency … They have been all twin residents.”
A spokesperson for the Chinese language embassy mentioned: “China all the time imposes extreme penalties on drug-related crimes.
“The info of the crimes dedicated by the Canadian nationals concerned within the instances are clear, and the proof is strong and adequate.”
China is believed to execute extra prisoners every year than the remainder of the world mixed – although the overall quantity is a state secret.
Historically executions are carried out by gunshot, however deadly injections have been launched in recent times.
The Chinese language embassy spokesperson mentioned Beijing “absolutely assured the rights and pursuits of the Canadian nationals involved,” and urged the Canadian authorities to “cease making irresponsible remarks”.
Ms Joly mentioned Canada persistently seeks clemency for Canadians dealing with the dying penalty overseas.
The households of these executed requested the federal government to withhold their identities, she added.
Learn extra from Sky Information:
PM makes rare visit to nuclear-armed sub to show UK’s strength
Trump holds ‘very good’ call with Zelenskyy
New rules may stop Musk making unlimited donations to Reform
Canada’s world affairs spokesperson Charlotte MacLeod mentioned Ottawa is constant to ask for clemency for Robert Schellenberg, a Canadian who was sentenced to dying for drug smuggling.
Amnesty Worldwide condemned the executions, saying China executed 1000’s of individuals in 2023.
“These stunning and inhumane executions of Canadian residents by Chinese language authorities must be a wake-up name for Canada,” mentioned Ketty Nivyabandi, the group’s head for English-speaking Canada.
It comes after China imposed tariffs on some Canadian farm and meals imports earlier this month in retaliation for Canadian duties on Chinese language-made electrical automobiles and metal and aluminium merchandise in October.
Ian Brodie, a former chief of workers to ex-Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper, mentioned it seems “agricultural tariffs weren’t the worst a part of the PRC response to EV tariffs.”
Opposition Conservative lawmaker Michael Chong mentioned “executing numerous Canadians briefly order is unprecedented, and is clearly an indication that Beijing has no intention of bettering relations with Canada”.
