China executes 4 Canadians this year, Canada says [Video]

• Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly said China has executed four Canadian dual citizens in recent months.
• Joly said she and former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asked for clemency in the drug-related accusations, but Beijing’s embassy noted that China does not recognize dual citizenship.
• Relations between China and Canada have been further strained recently as the countries impose tariffs on one another’s exports amid global trade tensions.

China executed four Canadians in recent months, Canada’s foreign affairs minister said Wednesday. Such executions of Westerners are relatively rare.

Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly said she and former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asked for clemency in the drug-related accusations involving the dual citizens.

Beijing’s embassy in Ottawa said the executions were due to drug crimes and noted that China does not recognize dual citizenship.

CHINA’S US INFLUENCE COULD FACE CRACKDOWN UNDER SLATE OF NEW BILLS

“We strongly condemn the executions,” Joly told reporters in Ottawa. “I asked personally for leniency … They were all dual citizens.”

Joly said Canada consistently asks for clemency for …