Say no to extradition treaty

China’s premier, visiting Canada last week, defended his country’s use of the death penalty. “If we abolish the death penalty,” Li Keqiang told reporters, “innocent people will lose their lives.”

We oppose the death penalty, while acknowledging that its supporters could perhaps mount an argument of this sort in a country with sturdy rule of law and respect for other human rights.

But that’s not China. China is the world’s single most prolific executioner, allowing capital punishment for dozens of crimes, including corruption and bribery, in addition to capital offences such as murder.

Such wide use of the death penalty is but one of many reasons Canada should not consider an extradition treaty with Beijing. Trade, academic exchanges — even security talks — might be an inevitable part of the diplomatic agenda, but an extradition pact is beyond the pale.

Canada has extradition treaties with some countries that do have the death penalty, such as the U.S. But we do not extradite to them without a guarantee that execution will not be used. Because the U.S. has a functioning, transparent and accountable judicial system, this works.

But China? According to Amnesty International, it tortures prisoners who are denied medical help; it’s accused of harvesting organs from political prisoners; it holds secret trials; it persecutes minorities. And its system isn’t transparent.

Discussing an extradition treaty with a country that routinely flouts Canadian values would only debase those values.