PARIS: China has executed a French national who had been on death row for more than a decade following his conviction on drug trafficking charges, prompting a strong reaction from the French government.
France’s foreign ministry confirmed on Saturday that Chan Thao Phoumy, a 62-year-old French citizen originally born in Laos, was put to death despite repeated diplomatic efforts to secure clemency. Officials said Paris had sought a pardon on humanitarian grounds, but those appeals were ultimately unsuccessful.
According to the ministry, the execution was carried out in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou. It also raised concerns over due process, noting that the defendant’s legal team was denied access to the final court hearing — a move described as a violation of his rights, according to AFP.
In a strongly worded statement, the French authorities expressed “consternation” over the execution and reiterated their long-standing opposition to capital punishment. Paris emphasised that it opposes the death penalty “everywhere and in all circumstances” and renewed its call for universal abolition.
The case has once again drawn attention to China’s use of the death penalty, particularly in drug-related offences, which are treated with severe penalties under Chinese law.
While Beijing maintains that such measures are necessary to combat narcotics crimes, international human rights organisations have repeatedly criticised the lack of transparency and legal safeguards in capital cases.
The execution is likely to strain diplomatic sensitivities between Paris and Beijing, with France expected to continue raising concerns over human rights and judicial standards in bilateral engagements.
