OTTAWA, March 19 – Canada declared on Wednesday that four of its nationals had been put to death in China earlier this year due to drug trafficking convictions, strongly opposing Beijing’s application of the death penalty.
Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly informed journalists that all four individuals were dual citizens and emphasized that Ottawa would appeal for clemency on behalf of other Canadians facing similar consequences.
“We firmly denounce the execution of these four Canadians,” she stated, highlighting that they had been sentenced for drug-related offenses.
In a separate announcement, the Canadian Foreign Ministry clarified that Robert Schellenberg, a Canadian who received a death sentence in 2019 for drug smuggling, had not been executed.
Tensions between Canada and China have remained high since 2018, when Huawei’s Chief Financial Officer, Meng Wanzhou, was detained in Vancouver at the request of U.S. authorities. In response, China apprehended two Canadian citizens. All three individuals were later released in 2021.
Earlier this month, China imposed tariffs surpassing $2.6 billion on Canadian food and agricultural exports in retaliation for trade restrictions Ottawa had previously placed on Chinese steel, aluminum, and electric vehicles.
On Thursday, Chinese Foreign Ministry representative Mao Ning urged Canada to “respect legal principles and avoid interfering in China’s judicial independence,” stressing that addressing drug-related crimes is a collective global obligation.
Mao reiterated that China ensures fairness in legal procedures, treats all individuals equally regardless of nationality, and upholds their rights.
In a statement, the Chinese embassy in Ottawa dismissed Canada’s response as irresponsible, reaffirming that China enforces strict measures against drug crimes and maintains a zero-tolerance approach. However, it did not verify whether the executions had taken place.