China’s top court has overturned the death sentence of a Canadian national in a long-running drug smuggling case, ordering a retrial. The move comes weeks after Carney’s visit to China.
China’s Supreme People’s Court has overturned the death sentence of a Canadian man convicted on drug charges, his lawyer said on Monday, marking a major development in a case that has weighed heavily on diplomatic relations between Beijing and Ottawa for years.
The decision comes just weeks after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to China, adding to signs of a cautious thaw in ties.
Who is Robert Schellenberg?
Robert Schellenberg was detained in China in 2014 on suspicion of drug smuggling. He was convicted in 2018 and sentenced to 15 years in prison.
However, following a retrial in January 2019, his sentence was escalated to death — a move that came shortly after Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou was arrested in Vancouver on a US extradition request, sharply escalating tensions between the two countries.
Supreme court orders retrial
Beijing-based lawyer Zhang Dongshuo said the Supreme People’s Court last Friday rejected the death sentence imposed by the lower court and ordered the case to be sent back to the Liaoning Provincial High People’s Court for a retrial.
The ruling comes about a year after Canada disclosed that four Canadian citizens had been executed in China on drug-related charges, underscoring the sensitivity of such cases.
Diplomatic context and Canada’s response
The court decision follows Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s four-day visit to China less than a month ago, during which both sides spoke of stabilising relations after years of strain under former prime minister Justin Trudeau.
A spokesperson for Canada’s foreign ministry said Ottawa was aware of the ruling and would continue to provide consular assistance to Schellenberg and his family.
Zhang suggested the timing of the decision was likely linked to recent diplomatic engagement, though he cautioned that the chances of an eventual acquittal remain slim given the seriousness of the charges.
China says courts acted independently
China’s foreign ministry rejected any political link, insisting the case was handled independently by the judiciary.
“Chinese judicial organs independently heard the relevant case and issued a judgement in accordance with the law,” foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said.
Case that strained bilateral ties
Schellenberg’s death sentence had been upheld by the Liaoning court in 2021, prompting strong condemnation from Canada.
Relations had already deteriorated after China detained two Canadian citizens on espionage charges following Meng Wanzhou’s arrest — a move widely criticised as “hostage diplomacy”. The two were released in 2021 on the same day the US dropped its extradition request and Meng returned to China.
Trade tensions and recent thaw
Ties worsened further in 2024 when Canada imposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, echoing similar US measures. China retaliated with tariffs on more than $2.6 billion worth of Canadian agricultural and food products, including canola oil, meal and seed.
Following Carney’s visit, both countries agreed to roll back tariffs on electric vehicles and canola, signalling a significant shift in policy.
Analysts say the warming of Canada–China ties could reshape the political and economic dynamics of China–US rivalry, even as Ottawa is expected to remain closely aligned with Washington.
End of Article
