Beijing has overturned the death sentence of Canadian citizen Robert Lloyd Schellenberg, a move signaling a potential easing of tensions between Canada, and China. The decision, announced Friday by China’s highest court, comes as Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney seeks to strengthen trade relations with Beijing.
Schellenberg’s lawyer, Zhang Dongshuo, confirmed the reversal to reporters in Beijing on Saturday. He indicated that Schellenberg will be retried by the Liaoning High People’s Court, though a date for the new trial has not yet been set. According to Zhang, Schellenberg appeared “relatively relaxed” during a meeting on Friday.
The case has been a significant point of contention between Ottawa and Beijing since Schellenberg’s initial arrest in 2014 on drug charges. The situation dramatically worsened following the December 2018 arrest in Vancouver of Meng Wanzhou, the chief financial officer of Huawei. In response to Meng’s arrest, China detained two Canadian citizens, Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, on espionage charges – accusations Canada strongly condemned as retaliatory.
Schellenberg was initially sentenced to 15 years in prison. However, in January 2019, a court in northeastern China abruptly retried him, imposing a death sentence and declaring the original 15-year term too lenient. The court alleged Schellenberg was a key figure in a scheme to smuggle narcotics to Australia. Amnesty International at the time described the retrial as a “flagrant violation of international law.” Schellenberg has consistently maintained his innocence.
The timing of the overturned sentence coincides with a recent shift in Canada’s foreign policy under Prime Minister Carney. Facing increasing economic pressure from tariffs imposed by the United States, Carney has prioritized diversifying Canada’s trade partnerships, with a renewed focus on China. He visited Beijing in January, where he and Chinese President Xi Jinping announced a “new strategic partnership” and a preliminary trade agreement.
Global Affairs Canada confirmed awareness of the decision by the Supreme People’s Court in a statement. “Canada has advocated for clemency in this case, as it does for all Canadians who are sentenced to the death penalty,” said spokesperson Thida Ith, adding that consular services would continue to be provided to Schellenberg and his family. The ministry declined to comment on whether diplomatic efforts during Carney’s visit played a role in the court’s decision, citing privacy concerns.
Zhang Dongshuo indicated that Carney’s visit had raised his hopes for a positive outcome for his client. The reversal comes after Meng Wanzhou was released in September 2021, and Spavor and Kovrig were freed alongside her, effectively ending a diplomatic crisis that had severely strained relations between Ottawa and Beijing.
The evolving geopolitical landscape, particularly the deteriorating economic relationship between the United States and Canada, appears to be a key factor in the shift. Carney has publicly stated that Canada can no longer rely on the U.S. As a stable trading partner, making engagement with China increasingly crucial for Canada’s economic future. Despite ongoing concerns, including allegations of Chinese interference in Canadian elections, Carney has emphasized the need for a functioning relationship with Beijing.
The case of Robert Lloyd Schellenberg has been closely watched internationally, representing a microcosm of the complex interplay between diplomacy, trade, and the rule of law in the context of great power competition. While the overturning of the death sentence offers a glimmer of hope, the upcoming retrial will be critical in determining Schellenberg’s fate and further shaping the trajectory of Canada-China relations.
