Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly confirmed Wednesday that China has executed four Canadian citizens in recent months, a rare event involving Western nationals.

The executions, which are linked to drug-related charges, have sparked outrage in Ottawa and drawn strong condemnation from human rights organizations.

In her statement, Joly condemned the executions, revealing that all four individuals were dual citizens. “I asked personally for leniency,” Joly told reporters, adding that both she and former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had previously appealed for clemency from Chinese authorities. However, China’s embassy in Ottawa dismissed Canada’s objections, stating that China does not recognize dual citizenship and that the executions were justified by “clear facts” and “solid evidence” related to drug crimes.

The executions come amid a backdrop of escalating diplomatic tensions between Canada and China. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s accusations that Canada is responsible for the fentanyl trade, calling the allegations “false.” Trudeau also vowed to implement retaliatory trade tariffs against China, which will be phased in over the coming month.

The strained relationship between the two countries traces back to 2018, when Canada arrested Meng Wanzhou, a Huawei executive, at the request of U.S. authorities. In retaliation, China detained two Canadians, an act widely described as “hostage politics.” The two individuals were released in 2021, the same day Meng returned to China after a deal was reached with U.S. authorities.

China, which is believed to execute more prisoners annually than any other country, remains secretive about the total number of executions. While the traditional method has been gunshots, lethal injections have become increasingly common. The Chinese embassy in Ottawa defended the executions, asserting that the rights of the Canadians had been “fully guaranteed” and urging Canada to cease making “irresponsible remarks.”

Joly reiterated Canada’s consistent opposition to the death penalty, emphasizing that the government always seeks clemency for its citizens facing execution abroad. Global Affairs Canada also continues to advocate for Robert Schellenberg, a Canadian sentenced to death in China for drug smuggling. Global Affairs spokeswoman Charlotte MacLeod confirmed that consular support is ongoing for the affected families, who have requested privacy and the withholding of the identities of the executed individuals.

As China remains Canada’s second-largest trading partner, these executions threaten to further strain an already fragile bilateral relationship, with experts warning of potential economic and diplomatic consequences. (ILKHA)