Behind The Curtain: China's Grim Reality of Executions Unveiled

China stands at the forefront of global execution practices, employing a variety of methods that go beyond conventional boundaries. The veil of secrecy surrounding its death penalty system only adds to the ominous atmosphere, as state-sanctioned executions outpace those of all other nations combined. From death vans to firing squads and lethal injections, the methods used by China are as diverse as the crimes that warrant such severe punishment.

While the exact figures remain shrouded in mystery, human rights organizations estimate that thousands are executed annually, surpassing the combined totals of Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United States. China's criminal law is both severe and convoluted, with offenses ranging from drug trafficking to white-collar crimes like corruption often punishable by death under Beijing's draconian legislation.

A 2021 report reveals that China's Penal Code of 1997, still in force today, lists 46 crimes eligible for the death penalty, including 24 violent crimes and 22 non-violent offenses. Although the number of such crimes has decreased over the years, executions persist, creating what Amnesty International terms a 'conveyor belt of executions.'

In 2022, the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty disclosed that China executed at least 8,000 individuals annually since 2007. This week, headlines captured the nation's attention as a couple was executed for the cold-blooded murder of their own children, while another man faced the ultimate penalty for bludgeoning his mother to death with a dumbbell.

The case of Zhang Bo and Ye Chengchen, who threw their two-year-old daughter and one-year-old son from a 15th-floor window, shocked the nation. The couple's heinous act was fueled by an affair and a desire to eliminate the 'obstacles' posed by their own children to a future life together. The executions sparked nationwide outrage, dominating social media discussions and reflecting the severity of the crime.

China's use of the death penalty remains veiled in secrecy, but glimpses into its practices have surfaced. Among the most disturbing revelations is the use of 'execution vans,' mobile units equipped with a hidden execution chamber. These vans, resembling ordinary police vehicles, allow death squads to carry out state-sanctioned killings without relocating prisoners to execution grounds. The concept has drawn comparisons to historical models used by the Nazis during the Holocaust.

Firing squads, once believed to be discontinued in 2010, continue to be employed, as demonstrated in the 2018 execution of Zhao Zewei, who stabbed nine school children. China's justice system, notorious for favoring prosecutors with a staggering 99.9 percent conviction rate, also exhibits instances of summary executions, where individuals are swiftly executed upon being deemed guilty.

China's use of the death penalty extends beyond violent and drug-related crimes. Even white-collar offenses, such as bribery and bigamy, can result in the ultimate punishment. The shocking practice of organ harvesting further underscores the grim reality, with the 2012 estimate suggesting that 65 percent of donated organs came from executed individuals, meeting the high demand for organs.

Amnesty International's figures from last year highlight China's overwhelming prominence in executions, exceeding 1,000 individuals in 2022. This grim reality forces the world to confront China's unique and controversial approach to the death penalty, raising questions about the ethical implications and the need for greater transparency.