Relations between Beijing and Ottawa are at crisis point after a Canadian man was sentenced to death by a Chinese court.
Canada’s foreign ministry issued a travel warning to its citizens in China over “the risk of arbitrary enforcement of local laws” late Monday, in the wake of the death sentence handed to Robert Lloyd Schellenberg during a one-day retrial in the city of Dalian.
Schellenberg had initially appealed a 15-year prison sentence for being an accessory in a plot to smuggle more than 222 kilograms (489.4 pounds) of methamphetamine from the northeastern port city to Australia in November 2014. But during the retrial, the court sided with the prosecution, which claimed to have uncovered new evidence proving Schellenberg’s principal role in the case.
The decision comes against the backdrop of a spiraling diplomatic dispute between the two countries following the arrest of Meng Wanzhou, a senior executive from the Chinese tech firm Huawei in Vancouver on December 1.
Meng, who is the daughter of the company’s founder, is likely to face extradition to the United States over allegations that she helped Huawei dodge US sanctions on Iran.
Beijing has fiercely objected to Meng’s capture and subsequent house arrest. Within weeks of her arrest, Chinese authorities detained two Canadians — former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor — on suspicion of “activities that endangered China’s national security.”
Former Canadian ambassador to China, Guy Saint-Jacques, told CNN on Tuesday that he believed China was making an example out of Schellenberg.
“We’re going through a crisis,” said Saint-Jacques, who was based in Beijing from 2012 to 2016. “What is peculiar is the timing and this was done I think after the arrest of Ms. Meng.”
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Tuesday that the Canadian travel warning was unnecessary, adding Canadians were safe in China “as long as they abide by Chinese laws.”
“I think Canada’s travel warning is like ‘thieves yelling out thieves’ because it is actually Canada, not China, that has arbitrarily detained a foreign citizen based on so-called legal reasons,” she said.
On Monday, the state-run Global Times tabloid published an editorial accusing Canada of hypocrisy and arguing that “many” foreign citizens had been sentenced to death in recent decades for smuggling drugs in China.
“The trial of Schellenberg shows China practicing its judicial sovereignty. Western media should cover this case responsibly to avoid misleading potential offenders of Chinese law. Schellenberg’s trial is not a ‘political verdict,’” the piece said.
Appeal expected
Schellenberg is now expected to appeal his conviction.
Speaking to CNN on Monday, Gary Schellenberg, Robert’s uncle, said the family was devastated by the ruling.
“We don’t know how much to talk about right now and what to say. We are all very heartbroken right now and we are all in shock. We are just overwhelmed,” he said.
Schellenberg’s family said in a statement after the ruling that they were asking all Canadians to “stand with us and pray for the safe return of our loved one.”
Speaking after the sentence, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told CTV News that the ruling was of “extreme concern” to his government, “as it should be to all our international friends and allies.”
“China has chosen to begin to arbitrarily apply the death penalty in cases facing, as in this case facing a Canadian,” he said.
Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Hua said Tuesday China was strongly dissatisfied with Trudeau’s remarks. “We urge Canada to respect the rule of law, respect China’s judicial sovereignty, stop its wrongdoing and stop making irresponsible remarks,” she said.
