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
- JANUARY 25, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA. GUANGZHOU YUEXIU DISTRICT PEOPLE'S COURT ORDERS EXECUTION OF PEOPLE INVOLVED IN DRUG TRAFFICKING
the Guangzhou Yuexiu District People's Court, China, passed sentence on Wei Fenglan, a 21 year old female, for drug trafficking.
- JANUARY 25, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA. CHONGQING CITY NO 1 INTERMEDIATE PEOPLE'S COURT SENTENCES MEN TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
in its initial trial, the Chongqing City No 1 Intermediate People's Court, China, sentenced He Xiangai and Li Guiqiang to death on drug smuggling drugs.
- JANUARY 24, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
Yang Ning, a Chinese citizen, was sentenced to death
Yang Ning, a Chinese citizen, was sentenced to death
- JANUARY 24, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
Chen Kai, an entertainment and property tycoon...
Chen Kai, an entertainment and property tycoon in southeast China's Fujian province was sentenced to death for running a prostitution
- JANUARY 24, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA. THREE MEN EXECUTED IN LIAONING PANJIN FOR BELONGING TO CRIMINAL SYNDICATE
Liu Xianjun, Song Xudong and Zhu Jianjun, men involved in the "29 August" Panjin criminal organization, were executed.
- JANUARY 22, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA. FUJIAN NANPING CITY INTERMEDIATE PEOPLE'S COURT TRIES CRIMINAL SYNDICATE
it was reported that “recently”, in its initial trial, the Fujian Nanping City Intermediate People's Court, China, sentenced to death Chen Kai, chairman of Kai Xuan Group Ltd Co, on charges of organizing and leading a criminal syndicate-like organization,
- JANUARY 21, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA. HENAN XUCHANG INTERMEDIATE PEOPLE'S COURT SENTENCES 11 MEN TO DEATH FOR ORGANISED CRIME
in its initial trial, the Henan Xuchang Intermediate People's Court, China, sentenced Song Liugen, Ma Xianzhou and seven other alleged gangsters to death and sentenced Hao Hongshan and Wang Qingguo to death with two years reprieve.
- JANUARY 19, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA. SHAANXI COURT SENTENCES FORMER PROCURATOR TO DEATH FOR MURDER, BRIBE-TAKING
in its initial trial, the Xianyang City Intermediate People's Court, China, sentenced Chen Ping, former chief procurator of Xianyang City Qindu District People's Procuratorate, to death, with all political rights deprived for life.
- JANUARY 18, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
China executed Yan Yanming, a 21-year-old man
China executed Yan Yanming, a 21-year-old man
- JANUARY 15, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
by 99 to 2 and 7 abstentions, the European Parliament endorsed a new resolution on Tibet.
by 99 to 2 and 7 abstentions, the European Parliament endorsed a new resolution on Tibet.
- JANUARY 14, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
four relatives were sentenced to death
four relatives were sentenced to death
- JANUARY 14, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
in its 15th annual world report, Human Rights Watch conceded that...
in its 15th annual world report, Human Rights Watch conceded that...
- JANUARY 14, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA. ANHUI HEFEI CITY INTERMEDIATE PEOPLE'S COURT SENTENCES TO DEATH MAN INVOLVED IN CRIMINAL SYNDICATE
in its initial trial, the Anhui Hefei City Intermediate People's Court, China, sentenced Hu Bin to death on charges of “organizing and leading a criminal syndicate-like organization, intentional injury, provoking trouble and illegal possession of guns”.
- JANUARY 13, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA. JIANGXI JIUJIANG CITY INTERMEDIATE PEOPLE'S COURT SENTENCES TO DEATH MAN FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
it was reported that in its initial trial, the Jiangxi Jiujiang City Intermediate People's Court sentenced Yu Wenbin to death and deprivation of political rights for life for drug trafficking.
- JANUARY 13, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA. TWO MEN EXECUTED IN XIAN, SHAANXI
authorities in Xian, China, executed Gao Delong, 52, and Rong Jinku for separate crimes. It was reported that on 4 November 1998, Dai and six other persons injured Goa’s son, causing his death.
- JANUARY 12, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
three men convicted of drug trafficking were executed in south China
three men convicted of drug trafficking were executed in south China for drug related crimes
- JANUARY 11, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
the Vice Mayor of Qingdao, a coastal city in East China's Shandong Province...
the Vice Mayor of Qingdao, a coastal city in East China's Shandong Province, was sentenced to death for taking bribes worth 4.96 million yuan (599,000 US dollars).
- JANUARY 10, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA. GANSU COURT SENTENCES FORMER DEVELOPMENT COMPANY OFFICIAL TO DEATH
in its second trial, the Gansu Provincial Higher People's Court sentenced to death Xu Guangming, former manager of Lianhai Comprehensive Development Co. Xu had been convicted of illegally obtaining 5.65m yuan, accepting 1.2m yuan in bribes and offering 29
- JANUARY 7, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
nine men appeared for sentencing
nine men appeared for sentencing
- JANUARY 6, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA. SHANTOU INTERMEDIATE PEOPLE'S COURT TRIES COUNTERFEIT BANKNOTES PRINTING CASE
it was reported that in its initial trial, the Shantou Intermediate People's Court in Guangdong Province, China, sentenced Zheng Jinming, to death
- JANUARY 5, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
fifteen legal experts petitioned a Chinese court
fifteen legal experts petitioned a Chinese court to overturn a death sentence on a man convicted of threatening to shoot a policeman but not actually pulling the trigger.
- JANUARY 5, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
fifteen legal experts petitioned a Chinese court to overturn a death sentence...
fifteen legal experts petitioned a Chinese court to overturn a death sentence on a man convicted of threatening to shoot a policeman but not actually pulling the trigger.
- JANUARY 4, 2005NepalDEATH PENALTY
5 Chinese, Nepalese arms smugglers given commuted sentences
China gave a commuted sentence to five criminal suspects
- DECEMBER 30, 2004ChinaDEATH PENALTY
the two-year probation period of a Tibetan monk, A'an Zhaxi...
the two-year probation period of a Tibetan monk, A'an Zhaxi...
- DECEMBER 26, 2004ChinaDEATH PENALTY
a court in China's Autonomous Region of Tibet sentenced to death a Nepalese
a court in China's Autonomous Region of Tibet sentenced to death a Nepalese
- DECEMBER 26, 2004ChinaDEATH PENALTY
12 unnamed person were executed in China.
12 unnamed person were executed in China.
- DECEMBER 25, 2004ChinaDEATH PENALTY
Chinese experts and officials in criminal justice said at a human rights symposium
Chinese experts and officials in criminal justice said at a human rights symposium
- DECEMBER 24, 2004Hong Kong SAR ChinaDEATH PENALTY
China sentenced two Hong Kong men to death
China sentenced two Hong Kong men to death
- DECEMBER 24, 2004ChinaDEATH PENALTY
the Shanghai No. 2 Intermediate People's Court sentenced Xu Guangying, 44, to death for murder.
the Shanghai No. 2 Intermediate People's Court sentenced Xu Guangying, 44, to death for murder.
- DECEMBER 24, 2004ChinaDEATH PENALTY
a man, named Lin Fujiu was executed in China for corruption.
a man, named Lin Fujiu was executed in China for corruption.