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China has officially executed four Canadian citizens for drug-related offenses.

Some shit you should know before you read: If you’re unaware, China is believed to have one of the highest execution rates in the world, though exact numbers remain a state secret. The death penalty is commonly applied for serious crimes, including murder, drug trafficking, corruption, and certain national security offenses. Executions are typically carried out by lethal injection or gunshot. Those sentenced to death have the right to appeal, but the process is often swift, as all death sentences must be reviewed and approved by the Supreme People’s Court, which can finalize a case within months or even weeks. Once the final approval is granted, executions are carried out quickly, often without prior public notice.

What’s going on now: China’s foreign embassy in Canada confirmed that four Canadian citizens were executed earlier this year for drug-related crimes, though neither country has publicly released their names. Canada’s government cited privacy requests from the victims’ families as the reason for withholding their identities, while China has not disclosed details of their cases beyond stating that they were convicted in accordance with its legal system.

Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly said she and former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had personally appealed for clemency, but their efforts were ignored. In a statement, Joly said, “We strongly condemn the executions, I asked personally for leniency….They were all dual citizens.”

In response to Canada’s condemnation, the Chinese embassy in Ottawa defended the executions, insisting that due process was followed. “Whoever violates the law of China must be held accountable in accordance with the law,” the embassy said in a statement. The embassy also pushed back against Canada’s criticism, urging the Canadian government to “respect the rule of law and China’s judicial sovereignty” and to stop making “irresponsible remarks” if it wants to improve diplomatic relations.