A Canadian man was sentenced to death by a Chinese court on Monday for drug smuggling, a decision that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau swiftly criticized and is likely to escalate tensions between Beijing and Ottawa.
Robert Lloyd Schellenberg, a native of Abbotsford, B.C., was retried by the Dalian Intermediate People’s Court in Liaoning province after appealing his initial 15-year sentence. The court announced the death penalty on its website.
Trudeau expressed deep concern over the death sentence, emphasizing Canada’s commitment to intervening when a Canadian faces such a severe punishment abroad. Schellenberg’s lawyer, Zhang Dongshuo, indicated that an appeal against the death sentence is probable.
The verdict has strained relations between China and Canada, already strained following the arrest of Meng Wanzhou, CFO of Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, in Vancouver at the U.S.’s request. In retaliation, China detained two Canadians, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, on suspicion of endangering state security.
Schellenberg’s retrial gained attention in Chinese media after Meng’s detention, leading to speculation that the death sentence was predetermined due to heightened tensions with Canada, according to former Canadian ambassador Guy Saint-Jacques.
The swift nature of Schellenberg’s retrial and sentencing raised concerns among human rights groups, with Amnesty International noting that drug-related offenses do not typically warrant the death penalty under international law. China’s execution practices are often shrouded in secrecy, with estimates suggesting around 2,000 executions annually.
The Conservative Party in Canada urged Trudeau to engage with Chinese President Xi Jinping to address Schellenberg’s case, criticizing the Prime Minister’s handling of diplomatic disputes. Meanwhile, Chinese authorities dismissed allegations of diplomatic misconduct in Kovrig’s case, stating he lacks diplomatic immunity.
As Schellenberg prepares to appeal the verdict, the international community continues to monitor the situation, with calls for a diplomatic resolution to the escalating tensions between Canada and China.
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