China Tells Canada To Stop Making ‘Irresponsible Remarks’ After Executing 4 Citizens
China has brushed off outrage from Canadian leaders after executing four Canadian citizens by firing squad, telling Ottawa to stop making what it called “irresponsible remarks.” The sharp rebuke came after Canada’s foreign minister and others condemned the killings and pleaded for clemency.
The Chinese embassy defended the executions, stating the cases involved drug crimes and insisting the evidence was “solid and sufficient.” Despite personal appeals from Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly and former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Chinese officials refused to back down and instead warned Canada not to interfere.
🇨🇦🇺🇸🇨🇳 Trudeau & Carney's Liberals are monumental hypocrites
Trump tariffs? Economic pain and possibly a world war.
China's tariffs and execution of Canadians? Nothing.
They will burn Canada to stop Trump from doing the very thing they are already allowing China to do. pic.twitter.com/SsjDjByK6r
— BlendrNews (@BlendrNews) March 20, 2025
Joly confirmed the executions had taken place in recent months and said the victims were dual citizens. China, however, does not recognize dual citizenship and maintained that it had “fully guaranteed the rights and interests” of those involved before carrying out the sentences.
Human rights organization Amnesty International called the executions “shocking and inhumane.” The group’s Canadian branch said the deaths should be a wake-up call about the dangers of trusting the Chinese regime.
Execution with Chinese characteristics:
China executed four Canadians for drug crimes while subsidizing Chinese chemical factories to produce fentanyl for drug lords in Mexico. pic.twitter.com/teuQCjd6aI
— Denise Wu (@denisewu) March 19, 2025
Michael Kovrig, a former Canadian diplomat once imprisoned by China, said the executions show Beijing has no real interest in repairing relations with Canada. “Any hopes that China might be willing to extend some olive branches” were misplaced, he said.
Tensions between the two countries have been escalating for years. In 2018, Canada arrested Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou on a U.S. extradition request. China responded by jailing two Canadian citizens. All three were released in 2021 after Meng reached a deal with U.S. authorities.
More recently, Canada placed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, aluminum and steel. China responded with duties on Canadian farm and food products. A former Canadian ambassador to China said the executions likely serve as a warning amid the growing trade dispute.
Canadian officials have chosen not to reveal the identities of the four citizens at the request of their families. The government is still urging leniency for another Canadian, Robert Schellenberg, who also faces a death sentence in China.