Canadian officials have confirmed that four dual citizens were executed in China this year on drug-related charges.

The identities of the individuals have not been disclosed, as stated by Canada's Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly.

The Chinese embassy in Canada responded to the situation by urging Ottawa to cease what it described as "irresponsible remarks." This development has raised concerns regarding the already strained diplomatic relations between Canada and China, which have been notably tense for several years.

China's foreign ministry affirmed that the executions were conducted "in accordance with the law" and asserted that there was "solid and sufficient" evidence to support the drug charges against the deceased Canadians.

Additionally, the embassy emphasized that Beijing had "fully guaranteed the rights and interests of the Canadian nationals concerned" and called for Canada to acknowledge "China's judicial sovereignty."

China maintains a stringent policy regarding drug offenses, and dual citizenship is not recognized under Chinese law.

While the imposition of the death penalty is infrequent for foreign nationals, it remains a common punishment for serious crimes such as drug trafficking, corruption, and espionage.

Reports by human rights organizations suggest that China continues to have one of the highest execution rates globally, with official statistics on the exact numbers kept confidential.

Minister Joly indicated that she had been closely monitoring the cases and had previously sought to intervene to halt the executions, alongside other government officials, including former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Global Affairs Canada reiterated that the Canadian government had consistently called for clemency at the highest levels, reaffirming its opposition to capital punishment in all cases.

The case follows the high-profile sentencing of Canadian Robert Lloyd Schellenberg in 2019, who received a death sentence for drug smuggling, although he was not among those executed this year.

Joly stated that Canada would continue to advocate for leniency regarding other Canadians facing similar legal predicaments in China.

The deterioration of relations between Canada and China can be traced back to 2018 when Canada arrested Chinese telecom executive Meng Wanzhou at the request of the United States, a move that prompted China to detain two Canadians, who have since been released.

In 2023, allegations of Chinese interference in Canadian federal elections surfaced in the media, prompting further diplomatic rifts, which China characterized as "baseless and defamatory."

Most recently, Canada imposed tariffs on certain Chinese imports, which led to China retaliating with levies on selected Canadian agricultural products.

This ongoing cycle of diplomatic and economic tensions continues to shape the bilateral relationship between the two nations.