France condemns China's execution of a French citizen held on death row for 15 years

France says China has executed a French citizen convicted of drug trafficking after more than 15 years on death row. The French Foreign Ministry announced that Chan Thao Phoumy, 62, was executed in Guangzhou. The ministry expressed "consternation" and noted that Phoumy's defense did not have access to the final court hearing. A Chinese court sentenced him to death in 2010. China’s use of executions — carried out by firing squads or lethal injections — is shrouded in secrecy but has long been extensive. Amnesty International says China is the world’s lead executioner, believed to sentence and put to death thousands of people annually.