The federal government says it “strongly condemns” the implementation of four Canadians in China Earlier this year about what Beijing says it is “drug -related crimes.”
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Melanie Jolie, confirmed the number of correspondents outside the cabinet meeting in Ottawa late on Wednesday, after global affairs in Canada said that she realizes that many Canadians have been executed in China this year.
She said, “There are four of the Canadians who were executed.” “We strongly condemn what happened, and of course our hearts and minds with families.”
The minister said that all four were dual Canadian citizens, but they will not share more details about the victims or their cases to honor their families’ request for privacy.
Jolie said that she and former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had personally resumed the Chinese government for indulgence in the provisions of the Canadians. She said she was in contact last week with Canadian officials in China and Ottawa are helping families.
“We will continue to communicate with China, as we continue to condemn not only strongly, but also we ask for other Canadians who are facing a similar situation,” she said.
Global Affairs Canada has already refused to confirm the number of Canadians who were executed in China this year or whenever executions occurred.
“Canada condemns the power of China’s use of the death penalty, which is irreversible and does not contradict the basic human dignity,” said spokeswoman Charlotte McCloid in a statement sent via email.
The Chinese embassy in Canada defended its use of the death penalty in a separate statement to Global News, adding that the Chinese authorities “fully guarantee the rights and interests of the Canadian citizens concerned.”
“China always imposes severe penalties for drug -related crimes and maintains a” zero tolerance “position on the drug problem,” the statement said. “The facts of the crimes committed by Canadian citizens participating in cases are clear, and the evidence is strong and sufficient.
“We urge the Canadian side to respect the rule of law and the judicial sovereignty of China, stop making irresponsible notes, and work in the same direction with China, and to promote a common to improve and develop China and Cananga’s relations with concrete actions.”
The embassy did not specify the crimes in which Canadians claim or provide details about their identities. Jolie may say whether China has provided evidence to support the charges, but it has admitted that the Canadians were accused of “criminal activities, according to China, linked to drugs.”
The executions were first reported by Globe and Mail, which she said had learned about it earlier this week.
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Ottawa confirmed that Robert Shellberg of Abuzford, British Columbia, who was arrested in 2014 on charges of drug smuggling and was sentenced to death, was not one of the Canadians who were executed.
“Canada continues to defend the compassion for Robert Shelinberg, advanced to him and assisted his family consulate.”
A global affairs official in Canada said in the background that Canada is aware of about 100 Canadian citizens currently being held by China.
China leads the world in executions, putting more prisoners than any other country in the world combined, according to Amnesty International.
“The exciting executions of Canadian citizens by the Chinese authorities should be an invitation to wake up in favor of Canada,” Kitti Kitti, the Kitti Navandi Secretary of Canada, said in a statement.
The exact number of executions in China is unknown because it was classified as a secret to the state, but it is believed that more than 1,000 people were implemented in 2022 alone. More than 2000 have been reported by human rights groups and researchers in previous years.
Cornell Center for the death penalty all over the world “Perhaps thousands of people think they are in the death row in China at any time, but they added that many prisoners are executed within two months of their punishment.
The organization adds that the death sentences and the death sentence are reported in the media “a small part” of those imposed or executed.
China is “not in a mood” to make concessions or make compassion
Jay Saint Jack, who previously held the position of Canada in China, said that the Canadian government was unable to prevent China from executing two Chinese Canadians for drug smuggling during his term.
He said in 2015, he appealed to former Prime Minister Stephen Harper and former ruler David Johnston, Chinese officials, including President Xi Jinping, to request a housewife on the eve of one of the executions, to no avail.
“Despite all these calls, the Chinese continued with death,” he said.
“I would like to say that our interventions at best have delayed implementation, perhaps for one year.”
At least four Canadians were sentenced to death Because of the alleged drug smuggling crimes between 2019 and 2020, including Chilinberg, which was promoted in 2019 from 15 years in prison after a retrial.
At that time, the relationships between Ottawa and Beijing were low due to the Canadian detention of the financial manager Huawei Cfo Meng Wanzhou, and the subsequent reservation of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor.
The other three prisoners – Yi Jianhawi, Shaw and Yaong and the fans Way – are of Chinese origin and an unknown status.
Despite the efforts made to improve relations since 2021, when Wanzhou and “Michaels” were released, tensions appeared again after Canada imposed a tariff on Chinese electric cars and relevant components, which sparked revenge on China.
It also called on the administration of US President Donald Trump Canada to take more measures against China regarding Fntanil and the efforts made to enter the car market in North America.
Trump’s actions against China, including aggressive customs tariffs, have led to some analysts that have believed that Beijing may look forward to stabilizing relations with other commercial partners such as Canada.
“This, for me, indicates that China is not in a mood to make any concessions, and perhaps this is not something that China is now interested with Canada,” said in Nadjipola, Vice President of Research and Strategy at the Asia Pacific Foundation in Canada, for Global News.
“I don’t expect a great improvement given these signals we get from China.”
Late last year, Ottawa imposed eight Chinese officials She was accused of “serious human rights violations” against ethnic and religious minorities, including Uighur, and expressed concern about democracy in Hong Kong.
Beijing accused Canada with hypocrisy, citing its historical treatment of the original peoples.
“We are at a difficult time in the relationship,” said St. Jack, who added that there is a possibility to reset after a Canadian federal elections this year.
He said that Canada must partnership with other countries similar to thinking and continue to pressure China in order to “update its practices” and cancel the death penalty, as Canadians warn of the potential risks they face.
He said: “The message that we have to strengthen with the Canadians, if you travel to China, it is better not to participate in drug trafficking, and by all means to travel with a Canadian passport if you want to arrive consular.”
-With files from Global’s Marc-Indre CosSette
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