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
MAY 26, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA. POLICE URGED TO STOP USING TORTURE TO MAKE PEOPLE CONFESS
China's top prosecution office urged police to stop using illegal methods such as torture to force suspects to confess, after a series of high profile miscarriages of justice.
- MAY 24, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA. HUNAN COURT SENTENCES TWO TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING, TRANSPORTATION
in its initial trial, the Loudi Intermediate People's Court, China, sentenced Li Muwang to death for drug transportation;
- MAY 20, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN. CHINESE MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING FUKUOKA FAMILY
the Fukuoka District Court sentenced Wei Wei, a Chinese man, to death for his part in the murder in 2003 of a family of four in Fukuoka.
- MAY 19, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
two men, Wang Junping and Zhu Yaqi, and a woman, Zhu Yaying, were executed
two men, Wang Junping and Zhu Yaqi, and a woman, Zhu Yaying, were executed
MAY 19, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA. FIVE SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR ABDUCTING AND SELLING CHILDREN
five people were sentenced to death and three others were jailed after being convicted of abducting and selling 19 young boys. Li Bifang, Jiang Chengpu, Yuan Guiyuan and Liu Weibing received death sentences for abducting boys aged between two and six by t
- MAY 17, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA. MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING 14 WITH POISONOUS ALCOHOL
fifteen people were convicted by a local court in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, for producing and selling fake liquor that left 14 people dead.
- MAY 17, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA. GUANGXI COURT SENTENCES SIX PEOPLE TO DEATH FOR HEROIN TRAFFICKING
the Beihai Court in China’s Guangxi province, sentenced Wu Zhangguang and Huang Chongming to death, sentenced four others to death with two years reprieve and a further four to life imprisonment.
- MAY 13, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA. POLITICIAN SENTENCED TO DEATH
Hou Jianjun, a Chinese provincial legislator, was sentenced to death after he murdered a pedestrian in a drunken rage by running him down with his sports utility vehicle.
- MAY 13, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA. COURT ORDERS EXECUTION OF DRUG TRAFFICKER, LIFE SENTENCES FOR MULES
Chengdu City Intermediate People's Court, pronounced the execution of Tang Mei, a female drug trafficker.
MAY 13, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA. THREE EXECUTED FOR ARMED ROBBERY, BOMBING
three convicted armed robbers were executed in southwest China's Chongqing municipality after engaging in a cross province crime spree that included a bombing and gun battles with police. The three were executed immediately after the Chongqing high court
- MAY 12, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA. US SENATOR MULLS SANCTIONS AGAINST CHINA OVER NORTH KOREA REFUGEE CRISIS
Republican US Senator Sam Brownback threatened to seek sanctions against China if it did not stop turning back refugees from North Korea who faced persecution and possible execution at home.
MAY 7, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA. FOUR SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR HEROIN TRAFFICKING
three convicted drug traffickers were sentenced to death in southwestern China's Sichuan province, while two accomplices were given long prison terms, the Chengdu Commercial Daily said.
- MAY 1, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
in May 2005, chinese authorities reportedly detained hundreds...
In May 2005, authorities reportedly detained hundreds of house church members from different groups in Jilin Province. In June authorities reportedly held approximately 100 pastors at Henan Province's Qi County detention center after detaining them at rel
- APRIL 27, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA. THREE MEN EXECUTED IN BEIJING FOR MURDER
three men were executed in Beijing as a result of three separate murder cases, the Supreme People's Court reported.
APRIL 26, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA. NEW WAVE OF ARRESTS AGAINST FALUN GONG
in the largest campaign since 1999, police have made massive arrests across the country in an operation against Falun Gong followers, especially in the provinces of Shandong, Jiangxi, Sichuan, and Inner Mongolia, this according to Falun Gong sources.
APRIL 26, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA. FORMER LEGISLATOR SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR RAPE, FRAUD
Sang Yuechun, a former Chinese legislator, was sentenced to death for rape, embezzling public funds, defrauding banks, possessing guns and leading criminal gangs, the government said.
- APRIL 25, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA. JURIES GIVEN BIGGER SAY IN REACHING VERDICTS
juries will help reach verdicts in criminal and civil court cases in China, the China Daily reported, as the country sought to strengthen its arbitrary legal system.
APRIL 25, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA. NINE GANG MEMBERS EXECUTED IN XUCHANG AFTER DEATH PENALTY UPHELD
nine members of a gang were executed after a high court upheld the death sentences handed down to them during an earlier local trial in China's Henan province.
APRIL 21, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA. WEN SAYS COUNTRY WORKING HARD TO RATIFY UN RIGHTS CONVENTION
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao insisted his country had made progress on improving its human rights record and said Beijing was working towards ratifying a UN convention on the issue.
- APRIL 20, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA. DEATH SENTENCE UPHELD FOR CHINESE NATIONAL
the Malysian Court of Appeal reaffirmed a 2002 High Court ruling sentencing Chan King Yu, a Chinese national, to death for drug trafficking. Judge Datuk Gopal Sri Ram, in giving the court's unanimous decision, said the appellate court was satisfied that t
- APRIL 20, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
China voted against the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
China voted against the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
- APRIL 20, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
FIVE PEOPLE TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
in its initial trial, the Xiangtan Intermediate People's Court, sentenced to death Fang Lanying, a Jilin woman, Duan Mingyou, Tan Xinsheng, Peng Jun and Song Haibo after convicting them of drug trafficking.
- APRIL 18, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH WITH REPRIEVE OVER NANHAI LOAN FRAUD CASE
in its initial trial, the Foshan Intermediate People's Court, sentenced Lin Yuhang, former president of the Industrial and Commercial Bank, Nanhai Sub-branch, to death with reprieve and six others to sentences ranging from 12 years imprisonment to life.
- APRIL 14, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREA. COUNTRY MUST COOPERATE TO IMPROVE 'ABYSMAL' RECORD, HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Human Rights Watch (HRW) urged North Korea to cooperate with the UN to improve its "abysmal" human rights record and called on China to stop sending refugees back to the Stalinist country.
- APRIL 13, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA. COURT BANS EXTORTED EVIDENCE
a Chinese court ruled evidence obtained through police torture and threats as inadmissible.
- APRIL 12, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA. COUNTRY ACCUSED OF CRUSHING CAMPAIGN AGAINST MUSLIM UIGHURS
China was directing a crushing campaign of religious repression against Muslim Uighurs in the name of anti-separatism and counter-terrorism, a report by Human Rights Watch and Human Rights in China said.
- APRIL 12, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
FORMER POLICE CHIEF AND OTHERS TO DEATH
Guangan City Intermediate People's Court, sentenced Xiong Qiang, Wang Bo, Li Yong and Cha Wanqing to death and sentenced Zhang Jingsong and Jiang Chunlin to death with reprieve. Yang Zhiquan and nine others were sentenced to life imprisonment.
- APRIL 11, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CANADA. COURT AGAIN REJECTS REFUGEE STATUS FOR CHINESE FUGITIVE
the federal appeals court in British Columbia province, Canada, affirmed a lower court's February 2004 decision to refuse refugee status refused to Lai Changxing, a Chinese man considered China's most wanted fugitive.
- APRIL 9, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA. PUBLIC OUTCRY GROWING OVER PUNISHMENT, TORTURE OF SUSPECTS
it was reported that an unusual heated public debate had engulfed China over the wrongful conviction of a man for murder.
- APRIL 9, 2005JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN. DALAI LAMA CALLS FOR ABOLITION OF DEATH PENALTY
Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama called for the abolition of the death penalty. On the second day of a visit to Japan which had been condemned by China, the Dalai Lama told a crowd of hundreds in Tokyo that criminals should be treated with “