Ottawa/Beijing (Rajeev Sharma): China’s top court has overturned the death sentence of a Canadian national convicted of drug trafficking, a move widely seen as a sign of easing tensions between Beijing and Ottawa after years of strained diplomatic relations. The decision comes shortly after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to China, aimed at reviving trade ties amid mounting tariff pressures from the United States.
China’s Supreme People’s Court on Friday set aside the death sentence handed to Robert Lloyd Schellenberg, according to reports citing his legal counsel. The ruling marks a significant turn in a case that had long symbolised the deterioration of China–Canada relations and had drawn international attention over concerns of political retaliation.
Schellenberg was initially sentenced to 15 years in prison for drug trafficking after his detention in 2014 in the northeastern city of Dalian. However, the sentence was later increased following a retrial in 2019, when a Chinese court ruled that the original punishment had been too lenient. The retrial and subsequent death sentence coincided with Canada’s arrest of Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver, a development that sharply worsened bilateral ties.
Following Meng’s arrest, Chinese authorities detained two Canadian citizens, Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, on espionage charges, a move Canada strongly criticised as retaliatory. The diplomatic standoff continued for years, casting a long shadow over political and trade relations between the two countries.
Chinese courts had accused Schellenberg of playing a major role in an international drug smuggling operation involving the shipment of narcotics to Australia, allegations he has consistently denied. With the death sentence now overturned, the case has been sent back to the Liaoning High People’s Court for retrial.
Canada’s foreign ministry confirmed it was aware of the ruling, stating that it would continue to provide consular support to Schellenberg and his family. The ministry reiterated Canada’s longstanding position against the death penalty and said it had repeatedly called for clemency in the case, as it does for all Canadians facing capital punishment abroad.
The decision comes less than a year after China confirmed the execution of four Canadian citizens on drug-related charges, a move that drew strong condemnation from Ottawa and further strained relations at the time.
Recent diplomatic engagements, however, suggest a shift in tone. During his visit to Beijing earlier this year, Prime Minister Carney argued that deeper cooperation between China and Canada could help both countries navigate a rapidly changing global order. The visit resulted in preliminary agreements to reduce tariffs on electric vehicles and canola, alongside commitments to ease broader trade tensions.
While Canada remains one of Washington’s closest allies, analysts note that Beijing may be seeking to strengthen ties with Ottawa as global trade dynamics shift and geopolitical frictions involving the United States continue to intensify.
