**Canada Condemns China for Executing Four Dual Citizens on Drug Charges**

**The recent executions of four Canadians in China for drug-related offenses have ignited a heated diplomatic dispute, with Canada's government expressing outrage over the actions taken by Beijing.**

Four Canadians, identified as dual citizens, were executed in China for drug offenses earlier this year, a fact confirmed by Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly. The identities of the individuals have not been made public. In response to the executions, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Canada urged the nation to refrain from issuing "irresponsible remarks," as concerns grow about the potential for further deterioration in diplomatic relations between the two countries.

China's foreign ministry stated that the executions were conducted "in accordance with the law," asserting that substantial evidence existed regarding the crimes committed by the Canadians. They emphasized that the rights of the individuals were upheld, calling on Canada to respect China's judicial sovereignty. While China adopts a hardline approach to drug-related offenses, the execution of foreign nationals remains uncommon.

Joly, who had been closely monitoring the cases, shared that she, alongside other officials, had made vigorous attempts to secure clemency for the individuals involved. Global Affairs Canada reiterated its long-standing opposition to capital punishment, stressing its consistent calls for leniency. Human rights groups, including Amnesty International Canada, reacted strongly to the executions, labeling them "shocking and inhumane," and expressing condolences for the victims' families.

In 2019, another Canadian, Robert Lloyd Schellenberg, received a death sentence in China for drug smuggling in a case heavily criticized by the Canadian government, but he was not among those executed. Joly reaffirmed the commitment to advocate for other Canadians facing similar perilous situations.

The relationship between Canada and China has been fraught with tension since 2018 when Canada detained Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou at the request of the United States. In retaliation, China detained two Canadians, who have since been released, but the diplomatic climate has not improved. Recent allegations in Canadian media about Chinese interference in federal elections have sparked further disputes, with Beijing rejecting these claims as "baseless." Compounding the tensions, retaliatory tariffs have been imposed by China on certain Canadian imports following trade actions by Ottawa against Chinese goods.