France has condemned China following the execution of a French citizen who had spent more than 15 years on death row after being convicted of drug trafficking.
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The man, Chan Thao Phoumy, 62, was executed in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, according to a statement released late Saturday by France’s foreign ministry. The ministry said the execution went ahead despite repeated appeals from French authorities for clemency.
Officials did not specify when the execution took place. A Chinese court had sentenced Chan to death in 2010.
France expresses “consternation”
In its statement, the French foreign ministry said it was deeply troubled by the execution and raised concerns about the handling of the case.
The ministry expressed “consternation” at the decision to carry out the sentence and criticised what it described as shortcomings in the legal process.
“We particularly regret that Mr. Chan’s defence did not have access to the final court hearing, which constitutes a violation of his rights,” the statement said.
French authorities also extended condolences to the family of the executed man.
“We extend our condolences to his family, whose grief we share,” the ministry added.
France has long opposed capital punishment and regularly campaigns internationally for its abolition.
China defends its legal process
In a brief response issued on Sunday, the Chinese Embassy in Paris defended the country’s judicial procedures but did not mention Chan by name.
The embassy said that China treats defendants equally regardless of nationality and handles cases in accordance with its laws.
“China treats defendants of all nationalities equally, handles all cases impartially and strictly in accordance with the law,” the statement said.
China maintains the death penalty for a range of crimes, including drug trafficking. The government provides limited public information about executions.
Death penalty remains widely used in China
Although exact figures are not published, China is widely believed to carry out more executions each year than any other country.
Human rights organisation Amnesty International says the use of capital punishment in China is highly secretive, but estimates that thousands of people may be sentenced to death and executed annually.
Executions in China are typically carried out either by firing squad or by lethal injection.
France abolished the death penalty in 1981 through an act of parliament and has since been an active supporter of global efforts to end capital punishment.
The execution of the French national highlights ongoing tensions between countries that oppose the death penalty and states that continue to apply it, particularly in cases involving foreign citizens.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 6 April 2026
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