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[Skip to content](https://www.ecpm.org/en/2024/05/14/china-and-the-death-penalty-a-well-kept-secret/#main) [](https://www.ecpm.org/en "ECPM") - [fr](https://www.ecpm.org/2024/05/14/la-chine-et-la-peine-de-mort-un-secret-bien-garde/) - [en](https://www.ecpm.org/en/2024/05/14/china-and-the-death-penalty-a-well-kept-secret/) - Get informed - [News](https://www.ecpm.org/en/news/) - [Worldmap](https://www.ecpm.org/en/worldmap/) - [Our arguments](https://www.ecpm.org/en/arguments/) - [Barometer](https://www.ecpm.org/en/barometer/) - [Reports and analysis](https://www.ecpm.org/en/reports-and-analysis/) - [Tools](https://www.ecpm.org/en/all-tools/) - Our actions - [In-country actions](https://www.ecpm.org/en/our-actions/by-country/) - [Our campaigns](https://www.ecpm.org/en/our-actions/our-campaigns/) - [Abolition congresses](https://www.ecpm.org/en/our-actions/abolition-congresses/) - [Teach](https://www.ecpm.org/en/our-actions/teach/) - [Federate](https://www.ecpm.org/en/our-actions/federate/) - To commit - [Testimonies](https://www.ecpm.org/en/testimonies/) - [Join us](https://www.ecpm.org/en/join-us/) - [Donate](https://www.ecpm.org/en/donate/) - [Become a volunteer](https://www.ecpm.org/en/become-a-volunteer/) - [Jobs](https://www.ecpm.org/en/recruitment/) - Discover ECPM - [History](https://www.ecpm.org/en/history/) - [About us](https://www.ecpm.org/en/about-us/) - [Partners in the field](https://www.ecpm.org/en/partners-in-the-field/) - [Worldmap](https://www.ecpm.org/en/worldmap/) - [Our arguments](https://www.ecpm.org/en/arguments/) - [Barometer](https://www.ecpm.org/en/barometer/) - [Donate](https://www.ecpm.org/en/donate/) - [News](https://www.ecpm.org/en/news/) - [China and the Death Penalty: A Well-Kept Secret](https://www.ecpm.org/en/2024/05/14/china-and-the-death-penalty-a-well-kept-secret/) ## Summary 1. [Opacity of Death Penalty Figures in China](https://www.ecpm.org/en/2024/05/14/china-and-the-death-penalty-a-well-kept-secret/#opacity-of-death-penalty-figures-in-china) 2. [Death Penalty with a ’two-year suspension’](https://www.ecpm.org/en/2024/05/14/china-and-the-death-penalty-a-well-kept-secret/#death-penalty-with-a-two-year-suspension) 3. [Focus on Hong Kong: Adoption of the Basic Law, "Article 23"](https://www.ecpm.org/en/2024/05/14/china-and-the-death-penalty-a-well-kept-secret/#focus-on-hong-kong-adoption-of-the-basic-law-article-23) Navigate on our interactive map [See the map](https://www.ecpm.org/en/worldmap/#map "See the map") Share - [magyar online casinók](https://casinovilag.net/) - <https://ingyeneskaszinobonusz.com/> - <https://kasinot-suomi.com/> - [kaszino24.com](https://kaszino24.com/) # China and the Death Penalty: A Well-Kept Secret Advocacy May 2024 During Xi Jinping's visit to France, ECPM spoke with Marie Holzman, a sinologist specializing in contemporary China and President of the Solidarité Chine association, to review the state of the death penalty in the country. Today, while 46 charges are punishable by death, the Middle Kingdom continues to shroud the data regarding its application in mystery. Where do we stand today?  Xi Jinping – Credits : UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré In China, central power is omnipresent, exerting tight control over all aspects of the country’s political, social, and economic life. Under Xi Jinping’s leadership, centralization has intensified, creating an atmosphere of repression where individuals’ fundamental rights are regularly violated. China continues to heavily rely on the death penalty, with the highest number of convictions and executions in the world. Despite numerous calls from the international community to ensure respect for human rights, the Chinese government has often chosen to ignore or inadequately respond to these recommendations issued by other UN member countries. ## Opacity of Death Penalty Figures in China Despite NGO calls for transparency, Chinese authorities do not disclose any data, making any estimation of executions difficult. In France, during diplomatic meetings, human rights defenders are consulted beforehand, but no concrete follow-up of the discussions held behind closed doors is provided to them. In China, data concerning the few cases of death penalty that are publicized are carefully controlled by the state and used to manipulate public opinion by instilling fear and claiming to deliver justice to crime victims. This opacity shrouds real practices and raises fears about the respect for human rights and the conditions under which the death penalty is applied. ## Death Penalty with a ’two-year suspension’ In addition to the so-called “immediate execution” death penalty, China, since the beginning of its authoritarian regime, is the only country to practice the death penalty with reprieve, a measure that adds a unique dimension to its judicial system. Death row prisoners generally have two years to show repentance, which could potentially lead to their death sentence being commuted to life imprisonment. In 2019, while traveling to China with his wife for their honeymoon, Australian journalist Yang Heng Jun was arrested upon arrival and then sentenced to death with a reprieve in February 2024. Accused of collusion with foreign forces, he now faces life imprisonment if his sentence is commuted. ## Focus on Hong Kong: Adoption of the Basic Law, “Article 23” This culture of repression now extends to Hong Kong, where the new Basic Law strengthens Beijing’s control over the city. Under the pretext of national security, authorities can now prosecute individuals abroad, thus threatening the Hong Kong diaspora and human rights activists who have fled the oppressive Chinese regime. This expansion of Chinese nuisance power beyond its borders raises concerns about the protection of fundamental rights, even outside Chinese territory. Thus, China continues to face major challenges in terms of human rights, with an opaque death penalty enforcement policy and surveillance practices that extend internationally. In this climate of repression, the fight for the abolition of the death penalty seems more difficult than ever, leaving little hope for abolitionist activists. Executions are estimated to be in the thousands per year, a figure that could be well below reality in the country. ## Follow the news of abolition Subscribe to our newsletter to find out about our actions in the world [I subscribe](https://www.ecpm.org/en/2024/05/14/china-and-the-death-penalty-a-well-kept-secret/ "I subscribe") - [Get informed](https://www.ecpm.org/en/2024/05/14/china-and-the-death-penalty-a-well-kept-secret/) - [News](https://www.ecpm.org/en/news/) - [Worldmap](https://www.ecpm.org/en/worldmap/) - [Our arguments](https://www.ecpm.org/en/arguments/) - [Barometer](https://www.ecpm.org/en/barometer/) - [Reports and analysis](https://www.ecpm.org/en/reports-and-analysis/) - [Tools](https://www.ecpm.org/en/all-tools/) - [Our actions](https://www.ecpm.org/en/2024/05/14/china-and-the-death-penalty-a-well-kept-secret/) - [In-country actions](https://www.ecpm.org/en/our-actions/by-country/) - [Our campaigns](https://www.ecpm.org/en/our-actions/our-campaigns/) - [Abolition Congresses](https://www.ecpm.org/en/?page_id=5189) - [Teach](https://www.ecpm.org/en/our-actions/teach/) - [Federate](https://www.ecpm.org/en/our-actions/federate/) - [To commit](https://www.ecpm.org/en/2024/05/14/china-and-the-death-penalty-a-well-kept-secret/) - [Testimonies](https://www.ecpm.org/en/testimonies/) - [Join us](https://www.ecpm.org/en/join-us/) - [Donate](https://www.ecpm.org/en/donate/) - [Become a volunteer](https://www.ecpm.org/en/become-a-volunteer/) - [Jobs](https://www.ecpm.org/en/recruitment/) - [Discover ECPM](https://www.ecpm.org/en/2024/05/14/china-and-the-death-penalty-a-well-kept-secret/) - [Partners in the field](https://www.ecpm.org/en/partners-in-the-field/) - [History](https://www.ecpm.org/en/history/) - [About us](https://www.ecpm.org/en/about-us/) - [Join us](https://www.ecpm.org/en/join-us/) - [Become a volunteer](https://www.ecpm.org/en/become-a-volunteer/) - [Donate](https://www.ecpm.org/en/donate/) [](https://www.ecpm.org/ "ECPM") - [Contact us](https://www.ecpm.org/en/contact-us/) - [Legal notice](https://www.ecpm.org/en/legal-notice/) © Copyright 2016 - 2026 - Together against the death penalty (ECPM) Notifications \<div class="tac\_activate tac\_activate\_recaptcha"\> \<div class="tac\_float"\> reCAPTCHA is disabled. \<button type="button" class="tarteaucitronAllow" id="Eng19565edrecaptcha"\> Autoriser \</button\> \</div\>\</div\> Fermer Cookies management panel By allowing these third party services, you accept their cookies and the use of tracking technologies necessary for their proper functioning. 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During Xi Jinping's visit to France, ECPM spoke with Marie Holzman, a sinologist specializing in contemporary China and President of the Solidarité Chine association, to review the state of the death penalty in the country. Today, while 46 charges are punishable by death, the Middle Kingdom continues to shroud the data regarding its application in mystery. Where do we stand today?  Xi Jinping – Credits : UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré In China, central power is omnipresent, exerting tight control over all aspects of the country’s political, social, and economic life. Under Xi Jinping’s leadership, centralization has intensified, creating an atmosphere of repression where individuals’ fundamental rights are regularly violated. China continues to heavily rely on the death penalty, with the highest number of convictions and executions in the world. Despite numerous calls from the international community to ensure respect for human rights, the Chinese government has often chosen to ignore or inadequately respond to these recommendations issued by other UN member countries. ## Opacity of Death Penalty Figures in China Despite NGO calls for transparency, Chinese authorities do not disclose any data, making any estimation of executions difficult. In France, during diplomatic meetings, human rights defenders are consulted beforehand, but no concrete follow-up of the discussions held behind closed doors is provided to them. In China, data concerning the few cases of death penalty that are publicized are carefully controlled by the state and used to manipulate public opinion by instilling fear and claiming to deliver justice to crime victims. This opacity shrouds real practices and raises fears about the respect for human rights and the conditions under which the death penalty is applied. ## Death Penalty with a ’two-year suspension’ In addition to the so-called “immediate execution” death penalty, China, since the beginning of its authoritarian regime, is the only country to practice the death penalty with reprieve, a measure that adds a unique dimension to its judicial system. Death row prisoners generally have two years to show repentance, which could potentially lead to their death sentence being commuted to life imprisonment. In 2019, while traveling to China with his wife for their honeymoon, Australian journalist Yang Heng Jun was arrested upon arrival and then sentenced to death with a reprieve in February 2024. Accused of collusion with foreign forces, he now faces life imprisonment if his sentence is commuted. ## Focus on Hong Kong: Adoption of the Basic Law, “Article 23” This culture of repression now extends to Hong Kong, where the new Basic Law strengthens Beijing’s control over the city. Under the pretext of national security, authorities can now prosecute individuals abroad, thus threatening the Hong Kong diaspora and human rights activists who have fled the oppressive Chinese regime. This expansion of Chinese nuisance power beyond its borders raises concerns about the protection of fundamental rights, even outside Chinese territory. Thus, China continues to face major challenges in terms of human rights, with an opaque death penalty enforcement policy and surveillance practices that extend internationally. In this climate of repression, the fight for the abolition of the death penalty seems more difficult than ever, leaving little hope for abolitionist activists. Executions are estimated to be in the thousands per year, a figure that could be well below reality in the country.