Recently, tensions between Canada and China have been escalating, with a new development shaking the relationship.
Four Canadian citizens have been executed in China over the past few weeks, reports Ziare.
The Canadian government has condemned these executions, while China maintains that the Canadians were convicted of serious drug-related offenses.
This tragic situation comes amid ongoing diplomatic strains between the two countries, including past incidents like the 2016 Huawei executive arrest.
Canada’s Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly publicly condemned the executions, stating that the Canadian government had made repeated calls to Beijing for clemency.
However, she reported that China had ignored these requests. Joly also mentioned that, due to the wishes of the victims' families, she could not provide further details about the case.
China, on the other hand, defended its actions. In a statement to the Globe and Mail, the Chinese Embassy emphasized the seriousness of drug-related crimes.
They stated that drug offenses are widely recognized as extremely harmful to society and that China upholds a strict "zero tolerance" policy against them.
Joly also revealed that former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had personally appealed to China for leniency.
However, China continues to uphold its stance. Death penalty statistics are kept secret by the Chinese government, but human rights organizations like Amnesty International estimate that thousands of people are executed in China each year.
The relationship between Canada and China has been fraught with tension since the 2016 arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in Canada.
In retaliation, China detained two Canadian citizens, though they were eventually released.
Diplomatic relations have remained strained, with accusations flying in both directions.
China accuses Canada of aligning too closely with the U.S. in its policies toward China, while Canadian authorities have long criticized Chinese interference in their affairs.
This latest incident only adds fuel to the fire, raising further concerns about human rights and international diplomacy.
