Joly said she had been following these cases for months and had tried, along with other leaders including ex-prime minister [Justin Trudeau](https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/world/justin-trudeau), to stop the executions.
A Global Affairs Canada spokesperson reiterated Canada's death penalty stance, saying it had "repeatedly called for clemency for these individuals at the senior-most levels."
China imposes the death sentence for major offenses such as drugs, corruption, and espionage.
However, the death penalty is rarely used against foreigners.