Diplomacy cannot undo law of the land

• Source: Global Times
• [02:06 December 24 2009]
• Comments

The rule – that you have to abide by the law of the country you are in – should be respected.

The note of urgency underlying Brown's intervention might put the Chinese government in a dilemma, in trying to separate a domestic legal case from diplomatic bickering.

Britain scrapped capital punishment in 1998 after much, and prolonged, deliberation. Throughout the world, whether to retain or repeal death penalty is still debated for its legal as well as moral pros and cons.

China cannot do away with death penalty at present because of strong public opinion against repealing it. After all, death penalty acts as a deterrent to serious crime.

But, with the country applying a stricter review process for death penalty, the number of executions is falling gradually. Besides, the method of execution has become more humane – with the use of a lethal injection instead of a firing squad.

The diplomatic contest over the life of Shaikh reflects the different stages of development of the legal system and legal consciousness in China and Britain. At a time when China is modernizing its legal framework, perhaps, it deserves more understanding in the current situation.

Muddled compromise is no solution. The verdict should be based on the law of China.