Australian man sentenced to death for drug trafficking in China

Australian man sentenced to death for drug trafficking in China

China has sentenced an Australian man to death for drug trafficking.

Authorities said Saturday. The incident has set the stage for further escalation of tensions between the two countries.

Australian and Chinese media have named the man as Cam Gillespie.

Police arrested him seven years ago at an airport in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou on drug trafficking charges.

China's foreign ministry said on Sunday that drug trafficking should be punished severely. Because such crime causes serious damage.

"We are deeply saddened to hear of such a verdict," the Australian Foreign Ministry said in a statement to Reuters in an email in response to Gillespie's death sentence. Australia opposes the death penalty for all people in any situation. We strongly support the abolition of the death penalty. "

In 2013, Cam Gillespie was accused of trying to smuggle a total of 7.5 kg of methamphetamine. He was caught on an international flight from Guangzhou's Baiyun Airport.

Relations with Beijing have deteriorated since Australia demanded an independent and impartial inquiry into the source of the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, China.

China suspends meat imports from Australia Beijing has also warned Chinese tourists not to travel to Australia.

Analysts believe that the death sentence of an Australian citizen in China will further deteriorate bilateral relations between the two countries.