Canada said on Wednesday that China had executed four Canadian citizens on drugs smuggling charges earlier this year, and strongly condemned Beijing’s use of the death penalty.

Global Affairs Canada is condemning China after the country executed an unspecified number of Canadian citizens earlier this year in an act that violates "basic human dignity."Spokesperson Charlotte MacLeod told CBC News in an email that Canada had "repeatedly called for clemency for these individuals at the senior-most levels.

Canada's government says China executed four Canadians earlier this year. Such executions of Westerners are relatively rare.