Q: On August 10, the EEAS Spokesperson issued a statement, expressing concern about the death penalty verdict in the case of Robert Schellenberg by a Chinese local court, calling for clemency to be granted. The statement says EU is opposed to the death penalty under all circumstances and calls upon China to introduce a moratorium as a first step towards abolition of death penalty. What is your response?

A: Drug-related crimes are serious crimes worldwide that are extremely harmful to society and every country takes a hard line on it. Chinese law retains death sentence and strictly controls its application. Death sentence for drug-related crimes that are extremely dangerous will help deter and prevent such crimes.

China is governed by the rule of law. The judiciary deals with criminals of different nationalities in accordance with the law. Canadian citizen Robert Schellenberg was involved in organized international drug trafficking and smuggled 222.035 kilograms of methamphetamine with others, which constitutes a drug smuggling offence. In the case of Schellenberg, the procedure was entirely legal and the evidence was solid and sufficient. I wonder if the EU side, when calling for justice for a drug trafficker, has ever cared the human rights of countless individuals and the well-being of their families who have been plagued by drugs.

The statement made by the EU side is a reckless interference in China’s internal affairs and judicial sovereignty. China firmly opposes it and will never accept it. We urge the EU side to earnestly respect the spirit of rule of law and China’s judicial sovereignty and stop making irresponsible remarks.