Canada: "Request for Clemency Not Accepted"
China: "Zero Tolerance Policy on Drug Crimes"
Escalating Tensions Over Retaliatory Tariffs Between the Two Countries
China recently carried out the death penalty on four Canadians involved in drug-related crimes. Executing citizens of Western countries is known to be rare in China, and amid the deepening conflict between the two countries due to "retaliatory tariffs," the situation appears to be worsening further over human rights issues.
According to AP News and the Hong Kong South China Morning Post (SCMP), on the 19th (local time), Melanie Joly, Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs, condemned the Chinese government, stating, "China has executed four Canadians in recent months." Minister Joly revealed, "Former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and I requested clemency for them from China, but it was not granted." All of them are reported to hold dual citizenship in Canada and China. The Canadian Foreign Ministry also stated, "We continue to request clemency for Robert Schellenberg, who was sentenced to death in China on drug smuggling charges."
In response, Chinese authorities defended the executions as strict punishments related to drug crimes. The Chinese Embassy in Canada stated, "China has always strictly punished drug-related crimes," and added, "The facts of the crimes committed by the Canadians involved in the case are clear, and there is sufficient evidence."
Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a regular briefing that "combating drug crimes is a shared responsibility of all countries, and as a country governed by law, China treats defendants of different nationalities equally," adding, "The cases were handled strictly and fairly according to the law, and the legal rights of the parties involved and the consular rights of Canada were guaranteed according to the law." He further stated, "Canada should respect the spirit of the rule of law and stop interfering with China's judicial sovereignty."
Considering that China is known for its strict stance on drug crimes and is the country that carries out the most executions worldwide, this execution is regarded as exceptional. AP noted that executions of Western nationals are very rare even in China. The incident attracted more attention as it occurred amid worsening relations between China and Canada due to mutual high tariffs.
When asked why China chose this timing to carry out the executions of Canadians, spokesperson Mao responded, "China is a country governed by law and handled the related cases according to the law." When asked whether China would continue executing foreigners, he replied, "China is a country governed by law."
Meanwhile, additional tariffs imposed by China on Canadian agricultural products and others took effect on the 20th. After Canada announced a 100% tariff on Chinese electric vehicles and a 25% additional tariff on steel and aluminum, China retaliated by imposing a 100% tariff on Canadian canola oil and a 25% additional tariff on seafood and pork starting from that day.
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