China
Death penalty and prisoners' rights · Archive since 1999
Data card
- Legal status
- Retentionist
- Executions recorded in 2026
- 0
- Executions recorded in 2025
- 0
- First news item in the archive
- JANUARY 1, 1999 · In January, the Nanyang Intermediate People's Court...
- News items in the archive
- 2,796
Source: Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026.
China is classified as Retentionist in the Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026. In 2026 the association recorded 0 executions in the country, against 0 the year before. The archive holds 2,796 news items on China, from 1999 to today.
China is believed to carry out more executions than any other country, but the figure is a state secret: no official statistics exist, and the known cases are those reported by the press or heard in public trials. Capital punishment applies to a large number of offences, including economic and drug offences, and the system also provides for a death sentence with a two year suspension, which in practice is often converted into life imprisonment.
The news on this page is a small part of what happens, and it is the part that can be documented.
Latest news
- SEPTEMBER 4, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: MAN EXECUTED AFTER STABBING ATTACK
a man was executed for killing two students at a school in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Abduhalik Muzht, 39, was found guilty of fatally cutting two children with a knife in December 2006.
- SEPTEMBER 1, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTY
a Chinese court sentenced a 28-year-old man to death for killing six policemen
a Chinese court sentenced a 28-year-old man to death for killing six policemen
- AUGUST 28, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTY
the head of a gang in China that smuggled 2 billion yuan ($292 million) worth of cigarettes
the head of a gang in China that smuggled 2 billion yuan ($292 million) worth of cigarettes
- AUGUST 27, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: OFFICIAL SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR CORRUPTION
the former Party secretary of Wenchang City in Hainan Province, China, was sentenced to death for accepting bribes and possessing a large amount of property of unknown origin
- AUGUST 22, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: AIRLINE OFFICIALS PUNISHED FOR EMBEZZLEMENT
Chen Liming, 59, a former top official at Guangzhou-based China Southern Airlines Group, was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve for embezzling a total of 1.5 billion yuan ($220 million).
- AUGUST 14, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: SHANGHAI OFFICIAL GETS DEATH SENTENCE FOR BRIBERY
a former land use official in Shanghai, China, was sentenced to death in an investigation into bribe-taking in return for real estate approvals.
- AUGUST 5, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: LEAKY TOILET LEADS TO DEATH SENTENCE
a Chinese official was sentenced to death for corruption after a leaky toilet led to the discovery of his hoard of illicit cash.
- JULY 31, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: UNLICENSED DRIVER GETS DEATH PENALTY FOR INTENTIONALLY DRAGGING, KILLING GIRL
a man with no driving license was sentenced to death for dragging and killing an 8 year old girl with his car, according to a court verdict in southwest China's Chongqing municipality.
- JULY 27, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA UPHOLDS DEATH PENALTY FOR STOCK TRADER
a Chinese court upheld the death sentence of a former securities trader charged with embezzling 97.56 million yuan ($14.31 million), the Legal Daily reported.
- JULY 23, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING BABY
Tang Shuhong, a 21 year old Shandong Province native, was sentenced to death for kidnapping and killing a 14-month-old baby, the Shanghai No. 1 Intermediate People's Court in China ruled.
JULY 18, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTYFOUR EXECUTED IN CHINA: STATE MEDIA
Four people were executed in east China for manslaughter and drug smuggling, state
JULY 11, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA EXECUTES 10 FOR MURDER, ROBBERY AND DRUGS
ten people were executed in central China for murder, robbery and drug trafficking, state
- JULY 10, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA. NO DEATH PENALTY HANDED DOWN SO FAR OVER LHASA VIOLENCE
forty-two people have been jailed so far for their involvement in the March 14 riot in Tibet's
- JULY 10, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTY
a man was sentenced to death for killing and robbing...
a man was sentenced to death for killing and robbing...
JULY 10, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA. FIVE UYGHURS KILLED IN RAID IN URUMCHI
According to Chinese state media reports, five Uyghurs were shot to death by police
JULY 10, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA DETAINS 82 'TERRORISTS' TARGETING OLYMPICS
Chinese police have this year detained 82 suspected terrorists in the nation
- JULY 9, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA. TWO UYGHURS EXECUTED IN KASHGAR AFTER MASS SENTENCING RALLY
Chinese authorities in the northwestern region of Xinjiang executed two ethnic minority
JUNE 27, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA OVERTURNS 15 PERCENT OF DEATH SENTENCES
China's highest court overturned 15 percent of all death sentences reviewed
- JUNE 26, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTY
Chen Shuangquan, former board chairman of a freeway...
Chen Shuangquan, former board chairman of a freeway...
JUNE 26, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA. SIX EXECUTED FOR DRUG RELATED CRIMES
six people were executed in Yunnan and Henan provinces, and the Guangxi Zhua
JUNE 24, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA EXECUTES THREE FOR DRUG DEALING
China executed three drug dealers and sentenced five more to death on
- JUNE 17, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTY
a company owner was sentenced to death for swindling...
a company owner was sentenced to death for swindling 33.27 million yuan ($US4.8 million) from illegal fund-raising in east China's Jiangsu Province.
- JUNE 16, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTY
a global coalition of rights groups urged China to curb use of the death
a global coalition of rights groups urged China to curb use of the death
- JUNE 5, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA. CHILD-TRAFFICKING GANG LEADER EXECUTED
The leader of a 10-member gang who abducted and trafficked in 38 children was
- JUNE 2, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: TWO INDIANS FACE DEATH IN CHINA FOR SMUGGLING DRUGS
two Indian Tamils, one a native of Thanjavur and the other from Ramanathapuram, were sentenced to death by a Chinese court for narcotics smuggling.
MAY 22, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA CLARIFIES DEFENCE LAWYERS' ROLE IN CAPITAL CASES
China's Supreme Court and Ministry of Justice jointly issued regulations on the protection of def
- MAY 18, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA. GOVERNMENT: DEATH PENALTY FOR BUILDERS WHO CUT CORNERS
the Chinese government said it will impose the death penalty on anyone who is found responsible
- MAY 12, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: CHINESE COURT COMMUTES DEATH SENTENCES OF NEPALESE PAIR
a Chinese court commuted the capital punishment for two Nepalis who were convicted in a case of drug trafficking to life imprisonment.
- MAY 9, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA SEES 30% DROP IN DEATH PENALTY
Chinese courts handed down about 30 percent fewer death penalties last year compared with 2006, sources from a forum revealed.
- MAY 8, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA DEATH SENTENCE FOR FORMER PROVINCIAL LEGISLATOR
a former senior legislator from east China's Jiangsu Province was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve for taking bribes from companies, a court ruled.