(March 20): China urged respect for its judicial sovereignty after Canada condemned the execution of four of its citizens, further straining ties between the two nations. 

Canada’s Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said on Wednesday that four Canadians holding dual citizenship were executed by China on drug-related charges earlier this year, according to local media reports. Ottawa will continue to engage with Beijing and seek leniency for other Canadians facing a similar situation, Joly added. 

China defended its justice system, with Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning saying, “We treat defendants of different nationalities as equals, handle the cases justly in accordance with law and lawfully protect the rights of people concerned and the consular rights of the Canadian side.” 

“Canada should respect the spirit of law and stop interfering in China’s judicial sovereignty,” Mao added, without providing further details.  

The episode marks the latest stumbling block in the China-Canada relationship, which has remained rocky since Huawei Technologies Co’s chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou was detained in Vancouver in 2018. Even though Meng was released in 2021, and two Canadians imprisoned in China were freed soon after, both countries continue to square off over issues including trade. 

China imposed tariffs on some Canadian agricultural products that came into effect on Thursday, in retaliation for Canadian trade restrictions. 

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