China executes 4 dual Canadian citizens despite Ottawa’s plea for clemency

Flags of Canada and China are placed for the first China-Canada economic and financial strategy dialogue in Beijing, China, on November 12, 2018 [Jason Lee/Reuters]

China executed four Canadian citizens for drug-related offences earlier this year, despite multiple pleas for clemency, Canada’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said.

Foreign Minister Melanie Joly told reporters on Wednesday that she “strongly condemns” the executions, and that both she and former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had asked for leniency in each case.