Four Canadians executed: Canada urges citizens to exercise extreme caution entering China

 

 

The Canadian government has issued a warning to Canadians traveling to China after China executed four Canadians for drug-related offenses. Canada is advising citizens visiting China to exercise extreme caution. This is one level below avoiding non-essential travel and two levels below avoiding all travel.

Officials have pointed to the risks of China's arbitrary enforcement of local laws. The advisory adds that China's lack of transparency in its justice system limits Canada's ability to provide consular assistance and may affect its ability to obtain effective legal assistance.

Canada had said that the four people sentenced to death in China were dual citizens. But the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that there was strong and sufficient evidence of their crimes and that they acted in accordance with the law. The death penalty in China is imposed for serious crimes including drugs, corruption and espionage. Meanwhile, the number of executions in China is secret.