Six days of horror: America’s thirst for executions returns with a vengeance
GuardianOCT 2024
China's revised state secrets law and opaque death penalty practices pose serious human rights concerns. By classifying execution data as state secrets, China obscures the true extent of its use of capital punishment, likely hiding thousands of executions. Recent legal changes grant authorities broad power to target foreign nationals and dissenters, expanding government control over information and stifling public discourse. Vague provisions heighten legal risks for individuals expressing dissent. Together, these measures signal an alarming erosion of transparency, restricting accountability for potential human rights abuses in China.
China’s updated state secrets law is a necessary measure to protect national security while still fostering an open business environment. Despite criticism, these revisions aim to ensure technological and strategic interests without hindering legitimate foreign business operations. In parallel, China’s approach to capital punishment is balanced, applying strict, controlled use only for severe crimes, in line with China’s social context and judicial norms. This issue remains a sovereign matter, emphasizing China’s stance that such policies should respect each nation’s unique legal, social, and cultural framework.
There is a 50% chance that capital punishment will be legal in 38.73% of US states in 2035, according to the Metaculus prediction community.