THE Chinese Embassy in Manila yesterday said Beijing’s death penalty applies to everyone who commits crimes that pose a great personal danger to the country and society.
The embassy issued the statement after two Filipinos were recently executed in China for drug-related cases, prompting several lawmakers to call for a tit-for-tat treatment for Chinese citizens convicted in the Philippines for drug trafficking.
The embassy said China’s death penalty does not target any race or nationality.
“Chinese law stipulates that all persons who commit crimes are equal in the application of the law, and no one is allowed to have privileges beyond the law,” the embassy said.
“China’s judiciary treats criminals of different nationalities equally and deals with them in a fair manner and strict accordance with the law,” it added.
The embassy explained that drug-related crimes are recognized worldwide as serious crimes and a menace to society that needs to be fully dealt with by the law.
“China unswervingly adheres to the law in combating drug-related crimes, always maintaining zero tolerance and a high-pressure deterrence, and resolutely punishing under the law those drug offenders who are malicious and pose great personal danger. China retains the death penalty, but strictly controls and prudently applies it; it is applied only to criminals who have committed extremely serious crimes,” the embassy explained.
It said that in the case of the two executed Filipinos, Chinese authorities ensured their rights were fully respected during the trial of their cases, including the rights to counsel.
The embassy added the two were also allowed visits from the Philippine consulate and members of their families.
The Department of Foreign Affairs announced the execution of the two Filipinos last Saturday, December 2. The DFA said the death penalty was carried out last November 24.
As of last March, the DFA said 83 Filipinos are facing the death penalty worldwide, 56 of them in Malaysia.
Next to Malaysia, the country with the second highest number of Filipinos on death row is the United Arab Emirates with six, followed by Saudi Arabia with five.
Fifteen Filipinos are also facing the death penalty in Bangladesh, China, Vietnam, Japan and Brunei.
In Indonesia, Mary Jane Veloso, who was convicted of drug trafficking, is also on death row.
