Canada condemns China after it executes Canadians over 'drug-related crime'

Peter Zimonjic · CBC News

· Posted: Mar 19, 2025 2:26 PM EDT | Last Updated: 4 minutes ago

Global Affairs Canada is condemning China aft the state executed an unspecified fig of Canadian citizens earlier this twelvemonth successful an enactment that violates "basic quality dignity."

Spokesperson Charlotte MacLeod told CBC News successful an email that Canada had "repeatedly called for clemency for these individuals astatine the senior-most levels."

She said Canada "remains steadfast successful its absorption to the usage of the decease punishment successful each cases, everywhere."

MacLeod said the national section is continuing to supply consular assistance to the families of those who were executed, but would not supply the identities of the victims, oregon however galore of them determination were. 

China's embassy successful Ottawa defended the executions connected Wednesday, telling CBC News successful an email that "whoever violates the instrumentality of China indispensable beryllium held accountable successful accordance with the law."

The embassy would not supply the names of the executed Canadians oregon the circumstantial crimes they were alleged to person committed, beyond that they were "drug related."

It besides declined to accidental however galore Canadians were killed.

"China ever imposes terrible penalties connected drug-related crimes and maintains a 'zero-tolerance' cognition toward the cause problem," the embassy said. "The facts of the crimes committed by the Canadian nationals progressive successful the cases are clear, and the grounds is coagulated and sufficient."

The embassy said the cases were handled "in strict accordance with the law" and that the rights and interests of the Canadians were "fully guaranteed."

'A clear, disturbing development'

Vina Nadjibulla, the vice-president of probe and strategy astatine the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, said the executions are a "deeply troubling development.

"The execution of foreigners is highly uncommon adjacent successful the Chinese transgression justness strategy which has a 99 per cent condemnation complaint and carries retired much executions than immoderate different state successful the world," she said. 

Nadjibulla said the past clip China executed a overseas national was much than 10 years ago, and this determination by China, contempt Canada's efforts to unafraid clemency done diplomatic means, suggests the 2 countries are inactive precise acold apart.

"For those radical who were hoping that successful the existent clime China whitethorn privation to fortify relations with Canada, whitethorn privation to deepen partnerships, this shows that that is truly not the case," she said. "This is simply a clear, disturbing improvement successful the bilateral relationship."

Canada-China relations stay sour

The embassy pushed backmost against Global Affairs Canada's condemnation of the executions and said Canada should judge the decisions made by China's judicial strategy if it wants to amended ties betwixt the 2 countries. 

"We impulse the Canadian broadside to respect the regularisation of instrumentality and China's judicial sovereignty, halt making irresponsible remarks, enactment successful the aforesaid absorption with China and jointly beforehand the betterment and improvement of China-Canada relations with factual actions," the embassy said. 

Relations betwixt Canada and China person been strained since the December 2018 detention of Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor by Beijing, connected vague nationalist information allegations.

Their arrests were wide seen arsenic retaliation for the Vancouver apprehension of Huawei's main fiscal officer, Meng Wanzhou, conscionable days before, at the behest of the U.S. to look fraud charges related to American sanctions against Iran.

Watch |  What could Canada person done amended to assistance Michael Kovrig?: 

Although each 3 were released successful 2021, the 2 countries person continued to butt heads.

On Thursday, China is expected to institute 100 per cent tariffs connected Canadian canola, on with 25 per cent tariffs connected different goods similar seafood and pork.

The Chinese tariffs travel successful effect to Canada's 100 per cent tariffs connected Chinese-made electrical vehicles and a 25-per-cent levy connected Chinese aluminum and alloy products imposed connected Oct. 1.

The determination was meant to support inexpensive electrical cars from China astatine bay to turn and support Canada's nascent EV sector.

Canadian Robert Lloyd Schellenberg was sentenced successful November 2018 to a 15-year situation word successful China implicit allegations of cause smuggling. 

In January 2019, Canada reached retired to China's ambassador to Canada to inquire for clemency for Schellenberg.

But aboriginal that year, astir a period aft Meng was detained, Schellenberg was retried and sentenced to death.

"Canada continues to advocator for clemency for Robert Schellenberg and provides him and his household consular assistance," MacLeod said.