SAN FRANCISCO
Lee Heidhues 3.20.2025
The Chinese government literally has a keep no prisoners when it comes to drug offenses. The government unapologetically kills them.
The world is aghast that the Chinese government has executed four Canadians for drug crimes this year. These people did not receive mercy despite a world wide outcry seeking their freedom.
I know someone who, several years ago, spent six months incarcerated in Beijing for a drug offense. This person was lucky. One morning this person was taken from jail. Transported to the airport and flown back to the United States.
Excerpted from The New York Post 3.20.2025
China executed four Canadian nationals over drug charges earlier this year, prompting strong rebukes from the Western country amidst an already rocky relationship.
China said the Canucks should mind their own business.
“Canada should respect the rule of law and stop interfering in China’s judicial sovereignty,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said, claiming it treated all defendants equally regardless of their nationality.
It is unclear exactly when this year the executions took place, but Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly said Wednesday she and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tried to stop them — and are seeking leniency “for other Canadians that are facing a similar situation,” the Wall Street Journal reported.
The victims were described as “Canadian nationals” who held dual citizenship with China, though China does not recognize dual citizenship.
China treats drug charges with a notoriously heavy hand, issuing lifetime prison sentences for smuggling and sometimes even meting out executions — though they are rarely carried out against Westerners.
Lee's Perspective 